It may be premature to say that Tara Iyer is the next big thing to happen in Indian women's tennis after Sania Mirza. But if Tara's exploits against former top-30 player Flavia Pennetta on Wednesday are any indicators, then the 19-year-old has indeed arrived.

"She played a terrific five games," her opponent conceded after coming through 6-3, 6-1. For the better part of the first set, the Indian matched Pennetta stroke for stroke. She hit her ground strokes flat and big – on both flanks – and served brilliantly well.

But after that, her nerves took over and subsequently her shot-making suffered. The frail-looking Indian just rolled over to embrace defeat after the initial brilliance. "I usually don't throw in the towel, I have the ability to force my way back," Tara said.

The difference in Tara's game between her first WTA Tour match in Bangalore seven months ago and her second one on Wednesday, has been remarkable. That she won four ITF titles – three on the trot -- in between and made the final of the Asian Championships in Tashkent ten days ago are proof enough. Former Indian great Jaideep Mukherjea said: "She has got lots of talent and hits the ball well. But she has to learn to be more patient."

"I have improved quite a bit since Bangalore," Tara noted. "I'm quite aggressive now. My movements have improved and so has my second serve."

Coached by Aditya Sachdeva since the last five months, Tara has been making steady progress. Ranked 354 now on the WTA list – only behind Sania (27) and Sunitha Rao (211) -- Tara has not set any stiff goals for now. "A top 250 by the end of this season would be good."

But where does she see herself in the next couple of years? "I could be in the top-50… or even better. But to get there, besides improving on other aspects of the game, fitness is going to be the key," Tara admitted.