Sporting a leather-collared black dress encrusted with crystal, Sharapova made a rock star entrance on a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium to close the night session. She told Vogue magazine last month about her “outrageous plan” to defend her title in Australia, where the year’s first grand slam will be played from Jan. Their forwards started the match on an attacking note and made some threatening sallies into the opposition half. With Delhi underachieving over the last few years and coach KP Bhaskar and veteran batsman Gautam Gambhir having a fractious relationship, his assignment was not easy. We try hard everywhere, but probably the emotions would be bigger here. “They are pushing us and the expectation is very, very high,” Arrivabene said of the fans, affectionately known as “tifosi. Former all-rounder Madan Lal has his fingers crossed before the start of the season. Kenin’s tank was empty in the second set and Sharapova, who next faces Latvian 16th seed Anast. Monza is renowned as Italy’s ‘Temple of Speed’, venerated by Ferrari’s fanatical ‘tifosi’like nowhere else in motorsport. But a cursory glance at India’s preparations reveal a different story.