The last few weeks in Indian tennis have been topsy-turvy. If it was the Davis Cup away tie against Kazakhstan in Almaty, Leander Paes and his boys had to labour hard for a 3-2 win which keeps them in the Asia-Oceania zone for 2008 as well.
My point is, for all the talk of having promising juniors and an “international circuit” at home, we still don’t have a singles player who can win us matches even at the regional level. So when Leander – he is going to be 34 in June – stepped out for the live fifth rubber, it was again the same old story. He did win it in four sets, but the point is, is Indian men’s tennis so bankrupt?
Each generation has seen star players emerge and other than the Krishnan era, when Jaidip Mukerjea and Premjit Lal were ready to play at any time, we have never really had a big pool to choose from. Be it the Amritraj era or later Ramesh Krishnan and Leander Paes, India have struggled to have four good players where three can play singles on any given day.
Leander is into his 17th year in Cup play, and one shudders to think what will happen once he walks away into sunset. Rohan Bopanna, Karan Rastogi, Divij Sharan and Vivek Shokeen should in fact feel hurt they are not able to deliver the goods.
In sharp contrast, there seems a profusion of talent in the distaff side. Injured Sania Mirza could not go to Christchurch for the Asia-Oceania Fed Cup Zone I ties, but the likes of debutant Sunitha Rao, Shikha Uberoi and company made sure India are in group one next year as well.
Minus Sania the star, it is a reasonable achievement and proof that the women are more professional when they step on court today. One could well argue Sunitha and Shikha honed their skills in the US. The same goes for Prakash Amritraj, whose love with injuries has almost destroyed his career. And Karan, too, spends a lot of time in the US at NBTA.
So I see no reason why these young men should not walk up to Sania, Shikha and Sunitha for some lessons in motivation. There is no ego in this at all, it’s just going to do their own tennis and passionate Indian tennis lovers good.
Is anybody listening please?
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1 comment:
Well Sir, I suppose that Prakash does keep in touch with one of the Uberoi sisters and he has his father to guide him…but then injuries are there to stay…you just can’t help it if you are a sportsman. Sania too has had her share of ‘bed rest’…but she always manages to bounce back. Prakash too will come back stronger sooner or later…
Rohan Bopanna has played good tennis against some big names but on all those big occasions he has come a cropper. I suppose he lack the temperament needed for a big match.
The rest still need a lot more exposure. Karan Rastogi has been doing well but again not against the big guys and in important tournaments.
True, men’s tennis in India is looking down the barrel and if appropriate remedial steps are not taken soon…. you never know it might just go the hockey way…into the doom.
Just a suggestion…probably these young players need psychological support.
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