In essence, the key for PV Sindhu was spelt out in the first point of the match itself. Up against Beiwen Zhang in the Round of 16 at the French Open Super 750, the Indian took the shuttle early and hit a crosscourt smash winner to go 1-0 up.

But she’d go away from that strategy, allowing the veteran American – who Sindhu first met all the way back in 2011 for the first time – to take charge of the opening game. Sindhu repeatedly went for clears to the backcourt, evidently hoping to pin Zhang to the backcourt but the shuttle more often than not landed long.

It is in these moments when coaching tweaks truly come in handy. In the heat of battle, players can sometimes misread the conditions and try things that don’t work. And as Sindhu mentioned in her social media post after her first-round win: “..having a true legend of Indian badminton by my side, taking on a coaching assignment after 25 years just to be in my corner! Prakash sir, I hope this is just the beginning of many more memorable moments together.”