Karman Kaur Thandi

Karman Kaur Thandi is an Indian tennis player who has been touted as a future champion and possibly a regular presence in the top 50.

Thandi has already made heads turn with her big game and strong attitude, and she has slowly but steadily been climbing up the WTA rankings. She has a lot of time on her hands, and can be expected to challenge for important titles in the future.

Best finish at each of the four Grand Slams:

Australian Open: NA

French Open: NA

Wimbledon: NA

US Open: NA

Highest Ranking: No. 196

Style of play

Thandi has an aggressive game that is centered around her serve and forehand. She looks to impose her power on the opposition, and tries to end points as quickly as possible.

Thandi has a flat forehand which she can hit either crosscourt or down the line with ease. Her backhand is a conventional two-hander, although she also uses the slice on occasion.

Thandi doesn't come to the net too often, and only looks to hit a volley when she has an easy putaway.

Strengths and weaknesses

Thandi's serve is a major weapon for her. Using her 6 ft tall frame to good effect, she can generate both pace and kick on her serve, and take control of points from there.

Thandi also has a big forehand, which she can hammer for winners from anywhere on the court. She can hit relatively flat on the forehand because of her height, which enables her to hit it with more speed and penetration than most players.

Thandi's movement is not her strongest suit, although she has been improving on that aspect in recent times. Her backhand is also at best a rally shot, and lacks the point-ending power that her forehand does.

Personal life

Thandi was born in New Delhi, India, and started playing tennis at the age of eight. Her parents were very supportive of her athletic career, and her mother often accompanied her to the court during her junior career.

Thandi has been coached by Aditya Sachdeva, and she has also worked at the Mouratoglou Academy in Nice for a brief period. While in Nice, she frequently practised with France's Alize Cornet, which helped her assess her game in comparison to that of an established top 20 star.

Thandi cites Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams as her role models in women's tennis. Among the males, she looks up to Roger Federer. She likes playing on hardcourt more than any other surface, and her favorite shots are her serve and forehand.

Thandi is only the sixth Indian woman to break into the top 200 of the WTA rankings, and one of the youngest to accomplish the feat. Her talent was spotted at an early age by Indian tennis legend Mahesh Bhupathi, and he continues to back her development as she looks to break new ground in her pro career.

Social media presence:

Karman Kaur Thandi Twitter: @KarmanThandi