HYDERABAD: “Saina (Nehwal) is like Susi Susanti. She (Saina) reminds me a lot of Susi. I think it is her footwork and the grace that she displays on court. There is a bit of Susi there. But unlike Susi, she has a powerful smash. I think she has it in her to reach the top level in a couple of years time,” said Christian Wirawan Hadinata, one of the greatest doubles players of all time. The Indonesian is a four-time All England champion partnering Adi Chandra.
Now here at the World Championship as coach of the Indonesia team, the 60-year-old said the three important things to become a successful doubles player was serve, concentration and defence.
“Once you have these three, then 60 per cent of the match is won. Thereafter, it is all about how you read your opponent’s mind and game,” he said.
Hadinata said doubles has become faster and harder. “It is more about hitting hard, harder and hardest. There is no finesse, which was present during our times,” he said. Hadinata also rued the lack of long rallies. “A stark contrast between the doubles of our times and now is that there were much more long rallies during our times.”
Hadinata, who hails from Jakarta, thinks that the current 21 point format is more suited to the attacking style of play. “The 21-point format helps those who attack. And again, you cannot afford to trail. Once you trail by a five point margin, then it becomes very difficult for you to stage a comeback.” Hadinata said Jwala-Diju pair was one of the best he had seen from India.