Mumbai Open | Started afresh and working my way up, says Teichmann

The goal: Teichmann hopes to break into the top 100.

Jil Teichmann was once ranked as high as 21 in the world. The 27-year-old Swiss has, however, had a turbulent time in recent years with injuries and personal struggles pushing her down to 117.

In an interaction with The Hindu, Teichmann reflected on her first-round win over Arianne Hartono in the Mumbai Open WTA 125 here on Wednesday.

“It was definitely hard-fought. I wasn’t getting into a rhythm initially, but I became more aggressive in the second and third sets, wanting to make it tough for her,” Teichmann said.

Teichmann also opened up about the struggles she experienced in 2023.

“Some personal issues started affecting my tennis. I lost over 25 matches that year and, though I had my moments, losing them was emotionally draining. I also had back problems and injuries.” Despite the setbacks, Teichmann is optimistic.

“I’ve started afresh and working my way up. I’m happy with the progress. I’ve learned a lot, especially mentally. I understand myself better now. My coach, who’s also one of my best friends, has helped me focus on emotional strength.

“My goal is to advance as far as possible in this tournament, break into the top 100, and qualify for the main draws in the Slams”.