Three titles, 15 wins: Khushi Kadian makes her mark at Fenesta

New Delhi: There was a time when losing a tennis match left Khushi Kadian in tears and questioning her future in the sport. At 13, the Rohtak girl is learning to turn setbacks into stepping stones. Her stunning triple crown at the Fenesta Open National Tennis Championship earlier this week offered the latest evidence of that transformation.“There were so many times when I wanted to give up tennis. But I told myself that I had worked so hard and had to do something," she told TOI.Across a gruelling week, Khushi won 15 consecutive matches to sweep the girls’ under-14 singles, under-16 singles and under-16 doubles titles, partnering Sanmitha Harini. She beat Siddhi Pandey 6-3, 6-2 in the under-14 final before outlasting Ranjhana Sangram 7-6 (7-3), 7-5 in a demanding under-16 singles decider. She then teamed up with Harini to clinch the doubles crown, defeating Purvi Patwa and Sangram 6-3, 6-3.The triumph was especially significant after a disappointing outing in Thailand, where she lost to China’s Li Xiaoke in the quarterfinals of the girls’ singles at the GSPDP Asian 14U Junior Championships. There were familiar thoughts of quitting, but Khushi chose to regroup.“I really wanted to win the Nationals this time, and I am happy about it,” she said, crediting her parents and coaches for their unwavering support. "One thing I have learnt and always say is, 'come on, this is your point'. And especially on my serves, I get a bit more confident that, 'yes, this is your serve and you are going to hit an ace'. I am becoming mature and understanding my game well."Once prone to tears after early-round defeats, Khushi now speaks of staying present, breathing between points and playing one point at a time. A fan of Elena Rybakina, she hopes to progress to junior Grand Slams before pursuing her bigger ambition.“I really want to do well at the Australian Open at one point of my career,” she said. “You just have to be patient, work hard and give your best, whether you win or lose.”Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.