New Delhi: Good times are rolling again for Indian tennis as a new generation has stepped forward and staked claim to carrying on the country's rich tennis legacy. It's no longer just Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi; young guns like Somdev Devvarman and Yuki Bhambri are also ready to take on the world.
Somdev is not only a good guitarist but also a very promising tennis player with a never say die attitude, a willingness to learn and most importantly respect for his peers.
The young man from Tripura is ready to rock and roll.
"I have been playing really well. i have had some good results of late and hopefully I will be able to use that momentum and do well in the next few months. The goal is to try and break into the top 100 sooner rather than later," Somdev says.
Within a year Somdev has cemented his place as India's top singles player. No one can forget the way he dominated former world No.1 Carlos Moya at the Chennai Open in January. Now his Davis Cup heroics against South Africa have made him a household name.
"He has been a rock for the team in the last few ties and we expect him to win every time he plays for us," says Bhupathi.
Indian tennis has been searching for successors to the Paes and Bhupathi legacy for quite some time now and that search might be over.
It's not just Somdev but also Bhambri who has been making waves in the junior circuit. He has now started to make the transition to the top flight.
"To come out winning and to play one of their two singles player on the last day and to play away from home.. I think it definitely is a good achievement," says former tennis great Ramesh Krishnan.
With Rohan Bopanna also finding his feet after his injury layoff it won't be easy selecting the next Davis Cup team.
But these young men need to go much beyond Davis Cup. They need to blaze a new trail on the singles circuit.
Comments
0 comment