Tennis

India's non-playing Davis Cup captain Rohit Rajpal has clarified his controversial "shut-up" remark, stating that it was directed at a few "agenda-driven" individuals targeting him, not the entire tennis community.Rajpal, who took over as captain in 2019, has faced criticism over his credentials, having played only one Davis Cup tie in his career. However, he maintains that his experience as a player and his dedication to Indian tennis qualify him for the role."Whether I deserve to be there or not is not a decision I would like to justify," Rajpal said. "That is in the hands of the Executive Committee, which is supreme."Rajpal emphasized that he is not clinging to the position and would step down if he felt his players or the tennis community lost confidence in him."The day I feel that my players feel somebody else will do a better job, I am the first one to walk out myself," he said.Rajpal also addressed his lack of playing experience, acknowledging that he was a "perfect example of what not to do" as a player. He overtrained and suffered injuries that cut short his career."I had one bad habit when I look back, which cost me my career, which was getting up at 5 in the morning and running 20 kilometers on the road," Rajpal said. "I did not know when to stop."Despite his limited playing experience, Rajpal believes his dedication and hard work make him a capable captain. He recalled training with top players like Jim Courier and challenging world-class opponents like Wayne Ferreira and Tim Henman."I played at a world-class level myself," Rajpal said. "And nothing, nobody can take that away from me."Rajpal expressed frustration over the lack of research and understanding surrounding his credentials. He urged critics to delve deeper into his background before making judgments."People don't research anymore," Rajpal said. "People don't look at things in-depth anymore. People look at things only from the surface, right? And which is a sad part."

Rohan Bopanna, India's premier doubles player, has secured a spot in the prestigious season-ending ATP Finals alongside his Australian partner Matthew Ebden. This marks Bopanna's fourth appearance in the tournament, a testament to his exceptional skills and longevity in the sport.The Indo-Aussie duo clinched their place after Nathaniel Lammons and Jackson Withrow were eliminated at the Rolex Paris Masters, finalizing the 2024 field. Joining Bopanna and Ebden in Turin's elite line-up are Wesley Koolhof/Nikola Mektic, Kevin Krawietz/Tim Puetz, Harri Heliovaara/Henry Patten, Marcelo Arevalo/Mate Pavic, Marcel Granollers/Horacio Zeballos, Simone Bolelli/Andrea Vavassori, and Max Purcell/Jordan Thompson.The ATP Finals, scheduled for November 10-17 at the Inalpi Arena, feature only the top eight doubles teams globally. Bopanna and Ebden have had a remarkable season, starting with a triumph at the Australian Open, where Bopanna became the oldest man at 43 years, 331 days to become a world No. 1. They also won the Miami Open and reached the final in Adelaide and the semi-finals at Roland Garros.This is the second consecutive year that Bopanna and Ebden have qualified for the ATP Finals. In 2023, they reached the semi-finals in Turin before being defeated by Granollers and Zeballos. For Bopanna, this event holds special significance as he aims to capture his maiden ATP Finals title. He previously finished as the finalist in 2012 with Mahesh Bhupathi and again in 2015 alongside Florin Mergea.Bopanna's ATP Finals journey began in 2011 with Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi. His experience and determination will be crucial as he and Ebden strive to make a deep run in Turin and challenge for the coveted title.

Indian Tennis: A Cycle of Ups and DownsIndian tennis legend Leander Paes has expressed concern over the recent decline in the sport's popularity in the country. Following India's 0-4 defeat to Sweden in the Davis Cup World Group I tie, Paes emphasized the need for patience and highlighted the cyclical nature of success and setbacks."Like anything in life, when you go up, you have to come down, and then you come back up again," said Paes, a former world No. 1 in doubles. "I am a big believer in the circle of life."Paes acknowledged the significant growth of tennis in India over the past four decades, attributing its rise to the success of players like Sania Mirza, Mahesh Bhupathi, Rohan Bopanna, and himself. However, he noted that the current situation, with no Indian players in the top 200 of the WTA rankings and only one in the top 100 of the ATP rankings, reflects a period of decline."We have all enjoyed such an upswing over the last 40 years, proving that we can be number one in both women's doubles and men's doubles," said Paes. "But now we need to have a little bit of patience."Paes emphasized the importance of investing in grassroots development and providing opportunities for young players to excel. He also called for a collective effort from all stakeholders, including players, coaches, and administrators, to revive the sport's fortunes."The circle of life is playing out," said Paes. "We will experience a slump, but we will rise again. The greatest key to success is patience. I have no doubt that tennis will rise again to the top in India."

Indian Duo Chandrasekar and Poonacha Triumph in Villena Challenger DoublesIndian tennis stars Anirudh Chandrasekar and Niki Poonacha have etched their names in the annals of tennis history by capturing the doubles title at the €120,950 Challenger tournament in Villena, Spain. The fourth-seeded pair displayed exceptional teamwork and resilience to overcome Romain Arneodo and Inigo Cervantes in a thrilling final, emerging victorious with a 7-6(2), 6-4 scoreline.This triumph marks the fifth Challenger title for both Chandrasekar and Poonacha, but it is their first together as a duo. It is also the third Challenger title of the season for Niki and the second for Anirudh. Their victory in Villena is a testament to their growing partnership and their ability to perform under pressure.The Indian duo began their campaign with a hard-fought 6-4, 7-6(5) victory over the Spanish pair of Sergio Martos Gornes and Oriol Roca Batalla. They then faced a stern test against the experienced duo of Andrej Martin and Tristan-Samuel Weissborn, but they prevailed in a tight three-set battle, winning 6-4, 3-6, 10-7.In the semifinals, Chandrasekar and Poonacha faced the challenge of the second-seeded pair of Sadio Doumbia and Fabien Reboul. The Indians showcased their tactical prowess and determination, winning in straight sets 6-3, 6-4.The final against Arneodo and Cervantes was a tense affair. The first set went into a tiebreaker, where Chandrasekar and Poonacha displayed their nerves of steel to win 7-2. The second set was equally competitive, but the Indian duo managed to break their opponents' serve in the crucial ninth game, eventually sealing the victory with a 6-4 scoreline.Their triumph in Villena has earned Chandrasekar and Poonacha €6,845 and 100 ATP points. The runners-up, Arneodo and Cervantes, received 60 points and €4,050.

Indian tennis star Sumit Nagal's Shanghai Masters campaign came to an end in the first round on Wednesday, as he fell to China's Yibing Wu in straight sets. Nagal, ranked 134th in the world, put up a valiant effort but was ultimately outplayed by the 113th-ranked Wu, who won 6-3, 6-3.The match started with both players holding serve comfortably. However, Wu broke Nagal's serve in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead. Nagal fought back to level the set at 3-3, but Wu broke his serve again in the eighth game to take the set 6-3.The second set followed a similar pattern, with both players holding serve until the sixth game. Wu once again broke Nagal's serve to take a 4-2 lead. Nagal managed to hold his serve in the next game, but Wu broke him again in the eighth game to seal the victory.Despite the loss, Nagal can take heart from his performance in Shanghai. He played with determination and showed that he has the potential to compete at the highest level. He will now turn his attention to the upcoming tournaments in the Asian swing, where he will be hoping to improve his ranking and secure a place in the Australian Open main draw.

Tavish Pahwa Triumphs in Colombo, Secures Maiden ITF Junior TitleColombo, September 14, 2024: Indian tennis prodigy Tavish Pahwa etched his name in the annals of junior tennis history by capturing his maiden ITF junior title in Colombo on Saturday. The 14-year-old sensation displayed remarkable consistency and determination throughout the tournament, not dropping a single set en route to the championship.Pahwa's journey to the title began with a dominant 6-4, 7-6(5) victory over second seed Luke Koh of Singapore in the semifinals. In the final, he faced Roman Kulpin of Russia, a formidable opponent who had also impressed in the tournament. However, Pahwa's unwavering focus and aggressive play proved too much for Kulpin, as he secured a convincing 6-2, 6-3 victory.Pahwa's triumph marks a significant milestone in his burgeoning tennis career. Having started playing ITF juniors in March 2023, he has quickly established himself as a rising star in the sport. His exceptional ball control, powerful groundstrokes, and unwavering mental fortitude have earned him widespread recognition.In addition to Pahwa's singles success, India also celebrated a doubles victory in Colombo. Vraj Gohil, partnering with Miguel Iglupas of the Philippines, overcame Venkat Batlanki and Juliusz Stanczyk in a thrilling three-set encounter, 3-6, 6-4, [10-4].The ITF junior tournament in Colombo provided a valuable platform for young tennis players to showcase their skills and gain international experience. Pahwa's victory is a testament to the growing strength of Indian tennis and the bright future that lies ahead for the sport in the country.

The Tennis Premier League (TPL), a revolutionary tennis tournament, is set to host its sixth edition in Mumbai, India, in December. Among the star-studded lineup is former World Number 1 Rohan Bopanna, making his TPL debut.Bopanna, currently ranked sixth in men's doubles, is one of India's most celebrated tennis players. With two Grand Slam titles (Australian Open 2024 in men's doubles and French Open 2017 in mixed doubles) and three Olympic appearances, he holds the record for being the oldest player to become World No. 1.The TPL's unique 25-point format aims to revolutionize tennis. Each match between two franchises consists of men's singles, women's singles, mixed doubles, and men's doubles, with each category worth 25 points. The top four teams from the league stage qualify for the semi-finals.Bopanna's experience and skills will be invaluable to his team. He joins a roster that includes Sumit Nagal, Hugo Gaston, and Elina Avanesyan, all vying for the top prize at the iconic Cricket Club of India."I'm thrilled to be part of the Tennis Premier League, especially with its innovative 25-point format," said Bopanna. "Tournaments like the TPL inspire young players and contribute to grassroots development."Kunal Thakkur, Co-Founder of TPL, expressed his excitement about Bopanna's participation. "His presence will not only boost the sixth season of TPL but also motivate the other players," he said.Mrunal Jain, Co-Founder of TPL, added, "Rohan Bopanna is an icon of Indian tennis, and we are delighted to have him play in Season 6. We anticipate some exceptional matches with Rohan and the rest of the players."The TPL's innovative format and star-studded lineup promise an unforgettable tennis experience for fans in Mumbai and beyond.

Indian tennis players made a strong showing in recent international tournaments, securing victories and advancing in both singles and doubles competitions.In the $25,000 ITF women's tournament in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand, Shrivalli Bhamidipaty overcame a tough challenge from local player Watsachol Sawatdee in the first round. Bhamidipaty, seeded No.1 in doubles with Vaidehi Chaudhari, also reached the quarterfinals in that category, defeating a Japanese team.Meanwhile, in the $100,000 women's event in Incheon, Korea, Prarthana Thombare and her Dutch partner Arianne Hartono made the doubles quarterfinals with a convincing win over a Korean pair.In other ITF tournaments, Sahaja Yamalapalli secured a straight-sets victory in the first round of the $25,000 event in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.On the men's side, Duje Ajdukovic of Croatia defeated India's Ramkumar Ramanathan in the first round of the $82,000 Challenger in Istanbul, Turkey.In the $25,000 ITF men's tournament in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand, Nick Chappell of the USA and Sai Karteek Reddy advanced to the doubles quarterfinals.In the $15,000 ITF men's event in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Vishnu Vardhan and Dev Javia both won their first-round singles matches. Vardhan also teamed up with Adil Kalyanpur to reach the doubles quarterfinals.These results highlight the growing talent and competitiveness of Indian tennis players on the international stage. They continue to make their mark in both singles and doubles competitions, showcasing their skills and determination.

Zeeshan Ali, the former coach of the Indian Davis Cup team, has announced his resignation from the position. Ali, who had been at the helm of the team since 2013, made the announcement on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, a month before India's next Davis Cup assignment against Sweden in Stockholm."I have resigned as the coach of the Davis Cup team," Ali told PTI.Ali, 54, replaced Nandan Bal as coach of the team ahead of the tie against South Korea in New Delhi. Under his guidance, India achieved notable success, including a historic victory over Pakistan in Islamabad earlier this year."I've been coach of the Davis Cup team for 11 years now," Ali said. "To top it all, I was also the captain of the Davis Cup, the historic tie that we played against Pakistan in Pakistan earlier on this year. I don't think there is any such person from any country who has had the privilege and honor of doing all these three things."Ali expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve as coach and captain of the team. He highlighted the unique experience of having held all three roles, from player to coach to captain."Having done all these three things, I felt that I have already achieved whatever there was to achieve as far as Davis Cup was concerned," Ali said. "And frankly speaking, I have been thinking about this for quite some time now."India will face Sweden on hard indoor court in Stockholm from September 14-15. The team will be led by captain Rohit Rajpal and will feature top players such as Yuki Bhambri, Ramkumar Ramanathan, and Rohan Bopanna.