By Sunder Iyer
On behalf of the Tashkent Open Media Team
Once Uzbekistan’s top tennis star Akgul Amanmuradova lost her rankings after a 10 month complete layoff from tennis due to a surgery and then stress fracture on her foot. It was a great comeback for the local star who has won her first match at Tashkent Open after2 years . Coming in as a wild card entrant she brought the goodly home crowd something to cheer about she spoke to the media team.
Congratulations on a good come back on your home turf ?
Akgul : Yes truly it's a comeback of sorts for me to register my first win on the WTA Tour exactly after a year. I had to go through a major surgery which put me out for nearly a year. I feel happy to compete back at the highest level once more.
Tell us about your injuries and the long layoff?
Akgul: Smiles, I have had small injuries before and lost some time , but the surgery I went through last year was serious. i could not even move my fingers , but after the surgery I was fine , then I had a stress fracture on my foot and that kept me out for further some time. I started from around 1001 in April again . The most difficult time was to be away from the courts.
The layoff must not have been easy and the comeback more difficult ?
Akgul : Frankly the whole of the period I was away , changed my perspective to tennis. I really felt happy to hit the first ball after my surgery. I was watching the French Open from my bed in the hospital and saw players , sliding , moving on the clay courts which is my favorite surface and really felt sad . I had been at the Roland Garros just a year back and I could think of all this and felt frustrated with my situation.
But I took it positively and this has helped me to change my outlook and the way I look at tennis. I'm more happy that I can play again. "Sometimes we don't appreciate what we have and I have learnt that".
So is it a new Akgul we are seeing?
Akgul : Yes true , I'm much older , experienced and matured with time and the circumstances around , I just cannot express my feelings , it has to be experienced
What are your goals ?
Akgul: I don't want to plan too much in advance as I believe anything can happen , but I have no pressure as there are no pints nothing to defend till May , I would be very happy if I can make points enough to make it to the qualifying of the Australian Open 2015.
Would you like to concentrate on playing more doubles ?
Akgul: No I will play both till I can , I'm physically fit now and worked hard during my rehabilitation and this is showing on my fitness ,I feel I still have some more time also now if you see women are lasting on the tour much more than earlier
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