Prithika Pavade emerged victorious this Wednesday from the Franco-French clash in the women's draw of the WTT Champions in Montpellier. The 27th in the world won in style (3-2) against Charlotte Lutz. In the round of 16, Pavade could find another tricolor, Jia Nan Yuan in the event of a victory against Miwa Harimoto (7th in the world).
Prithika, we imagine that it is not necessarily easy to meet a teammate, a compatriot in the first round?
Yes, it was, in quotes, one of the two worst situations that we could imagine, either playing against a French girl, or taking on a very, very strong girl directly. But I'm happy to have come out of it, because I think we had a pretty good match. Honestly, there were some good rallies, a few little stupid mistakes on both sides, but I think that overall for a first match which is not easy, we both got into it well.
How do we feel about a match like that? How do we approach this type of match? Is there a different mind?
Obviously, when you do a WTT Champions in France, you are even more tense. I wouldn't have minded playing it elsewhere, but here in Montpellier, you know that the public isn't going to take sides, so it's also a bit annoying. We just want to take advantage of this atmosphere as much as possible to try to play at a level that we don't usually play. It's not ideal, that's for sure, but on the other hand, I'm very happy to have won, because it's the most important.
Despite this context, are you able to enjoy the atmosphere and the moment?
Yes, as soon as there is victory, I enjoy it. There are the French championships, every year, where you only find yourself playing French women. Lately, it hasn't been my competition, so I'm happy to show that I'm capable of playing well against French women.
Obviously, I know that now, I am one of the best in the French team, but it is never easy to play against each other because we know each other very well. I'm happy to have managed this match well, because I think I really produced some good stuff.
It's always a bit difficult to start a tournament. Do you think that winning the first one frees you up for the future?
The first match of a competition, each time, you are a little more tense, you have a little feeling in your stomach. It's normal and I even think it's good. Exactly, if you don't have that, it kinda means that you don't care. Afterwards, I don't play again until Friday evening. There's still time to reacclimatize to the atmosphere where I think it's going to pick up a bit and it's going to be cool.
In the next round, you will find either Jia Nan Yuan or Miwa Harimoto (7th in the world), a match that will not be easy…
Obviously, I want Jia Nan to win. Even, I think, in terms of the game system, it is perhaps also for me a little better. But otherwise, I'll prepare for both. Miwa (Harimoto) is one hell of a piece. I don't think I ever beat her as a senior. She always won me over. She's a young girl who plays really well. I have to give my best, try to change little things. Because if I really want to fight this kind of girl, I have to be a little out of the ordinary. So, that's what I'm going to try to do.
