Florida-based Sunitha Rao's dream of playing for the country of her origin is finally coming true and the teen is high on confidence as she left for India's Fed Cup tie in New Zealand.
Part of the Fed Cup squad which will play in the Asia/Oceania zone Group I, Sunitha said she is going with a positive frame of mind.
"I am very excited. I had been waiting for this to happen and now I will be playing for India. I am not at all nervous and instead, very positive for the tournament," she said from Mumbai.
"I am confident that my association with Indian tennis would go a long way. I am looking forward to it," she said.
Sunitha, currently placed 221 on WTA singles ranking, said all the members of the team were confident of a successful campaign in Fed Cup.
"Shikha [Uberoi] has been there for a while. Ankita [Bhambri] is also experienced. I am sure we will perform well as a team," Sunitha said.
Coach Enrico Piperno also felt that Sunitha's inclusion would strengthen the team.
"It definitely adds sting to the team. She is an experienced player who has been on the US circuit for quite some time. It will be interesting to see how she performs, but I am expecting good results," Piperno said.
Though All India Tennis Association had nominated Rao as member of Indian team for the Fed cup long time back, it was only a fortnight ago that they got confirmation from ITF that Sunitha had been cleared to play for India.
"About six months ago we had sent a request to ITF to allow Sunitha play for India but we did not get any response.
"It was only 15 days ago when we were intimated by the ITF that they had cleared her name long time back. May be the mail they sent us did not reach us. But now the air is cleared about her participitaion," P F Montes, Tournament Director of AITA said.
Sunitha is now the top ranked player of the Indian Fed Cup team which includes Shikha (239), Ankita (476) and Tara Iyer.
The Asia/Oceania Zone Group I will see 10 teams being divided into two goups and the winner of each group would play each other for a place in World Group II play-offs.
