Tennis India

THE OLYMPICS ISSUE

Volume 2 | Issue 5 | September-October 2012 ` 100/-

INDIA MAGAZINE

Vishnu

Vardhan's First Olympic Experience

Interview with Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi Sheetal Iyer's Game Changing Story Creating the Ideal Doubles Team Top 10 Endurance Training Mistakes

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he honor of representing one's country at the Olympics is a dream come true for an athlete and four long awaited years for a fan. Capturing the feeling of playing at the Olympics with some of the world's best athletes is the inspiration for choosing our cover story and creating this issue as a whole.

Our cover story focuses on the newcomer to the world of Olympic tennis. He got a last minute slot to play in the men's singles and in the men's doubles with Leander Paes. Representing India at just 25 years old, Vishnu Vardhan lived the dream to play with his tennis idol, Paes and be the face of the future of Indian tennis. Vishnu Vardhan gives us a glimpse into his story and thoughts on the London Olympics 2012.

Vardhan is a true athlete as his losses are his motivation for his future tournaments. It is undeniable that his story shows the value of a great “tennis team.” His parents, coach, and other supporters are what he credits for his current successes. There are many things to learn from Vardhan's experience. Those I leave to you to draw out on your own, as his story will inspire each of you differently.

Beyond the tennis players and court, we take a look behind the scenes through the words of an ultimate game changer, Sheetal Iyer. After years of commitment to tennis officiating, Sheetal was deservingly given the Gold Badge Referee status in 2007, making her Asia's first Gold Badge referee. She has officiated tennis on the big stage at many major tournaments like the Davis Cup and Fed Cup ties. Her contribution to the tennis world by being a pioneer inspires women in India to take a larger part in the sports world, especially tennis.

Though Olympic tennis is about the players dominating the court today, the Olympics is also about its influential history. This issue does not forget tennis's legends. CNN's Open Court talks to Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf to understand the true value of an Olympic Gold. What is it like being a man who holds three Olympic tennis medals for his country or playing tennis when the possibility of heat exhaustion is higher than finishing a day of training? Fernando Gonzalez's and Malek Jaziri's words bring the experiences of Olympic tennis winning and training to light. The legends tell all.

This issue is also unique because it not only tells Olympic stories but also gives advice on effective training strategies, for aspiring tennis players to stand on the Olympic tennis podium for their own medal one day. This issue also briefly covers the other prestigious tournament in the tennis world - Wimbledon. It goes to Wimbledon's Centre Court with a young fan to witness the Federer v. Murray final and brings Centre Court to life. As for the young dreamers of tennis, our promising players create the platform for India's future tennis.

If you dream of playing at the Olympics, maybe your dream will come true someday. This issue, hopefully, gives you some inspiration and advice, so you can follow the legends. If you are a fan, then hopefully this issue takes you deeper into the sport that you already love.

Enjoy the issue that takes you behind the world of Olympic tennis!

Manali Kulkarni

editor@tennisindiamagazine.com

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Joy of A 19 year-old Tennis Fan

he night before, I could not sleep well. I was out with my friends, exploring London on our first weekend in the city. I had reached my hostel at 4 AM and slept for just two hours. 6 A.M., I was up and got ready! It took me almost an hour to get from Russell Square to Southfields,.

ABHIJEET DANGAT My experience on Sunday, 8th July 2012

The Queue was such a fine experience!

I

t was a historic day in the tennis world as a Brit, Andy Murray, reached the Wimbledon final after 74 years and the Swiss Maestro Roger Federer was playing to put himself in the record books, yet again.

It was around 7:30 am when I reached Southfields, the nearest tube station for AELTC, where the annual Wimbledon Tennis Championships take place. I was so excited! I was wearing a t-shirt, which said, 'I Love Federer' with a RF logo cap on my head. I was obviously a Roger Federer fan. I love him. I adore him. I worship him. I came out of the station and the two local station guards standing there looked at me and loudly said, “It's going to be Murray, my friend.

Go Andy!” I looked at them and just smiled.

It was the final day of The Championships, so I was not sure if I could get a pass even after getting into the Queue hours before the sales for Ground Passes start. Finally, after waiting for three and half hours, I was able to get a Ground Pass in my hand. I was so happy!

I was in.

Similar sights, like those on TV and things I had read, were in front of me now. Centre Court, schedule board, mini Wimby shops and people everywhere!

I could not wipe off the huge smile on my face.

Six months ago, when I had applied to acquire tickets through Public Ballot, I was unsuccessful. However, today I was actually at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club!

I followed the direction boards and went to Aorangi Terrace.

Yes! The famous Henman Hill / Murray Mound. Thousands of people were there on the field, facing the giant screen located on one side of No.1 Court. The sight was unbelievable! People were wild with excitement and

pride because a British player had reached the final of the prestigious tournament after 74 years! (The last Brit who had reached the final was Bunny Austin and the last Brit who had won the Championships was Fred Perry.) They all were also seeing something like this for the first time ever in their lives!

It was a predominantly British atmosphere! People were sporting blue, white and red colors with their face painting, banners, and flags. Actually, people in United Kingdom love Federer but on that day, they were all there to support their local boy!

The final of the Gentlemen's Singles was supposed to take place at two that afternoon.

There was still a lot of time left, so I decided to roam around.

Outside the Centre Court With Original Trophies

The Queue pictures

I

started walking towards the club in the slight rain fall. Tiny and big houses as well as rich green fields surrounded the whole area.

After walking down a few steps, I saw the AELTC gate and ‘The Queue'. As I gathered into the queue, an honorary steward came and handed me the Queue Card.

Finally, I was at Wimbledon.

I could not believe.

In the beginning of third set, both the players kept their first service, but the play was immediately suspended due to darkness and rain.

At Henman Hill

I

went to the main Wimbledon Shop. As I entered the shop, I realized that it was a bit too crowded!

They were selling souvenirs and gift articles. The Championship towel, the Championship t-shirt, the Championship key-chains, wristbands, a mug, and a lanyard; I started picking up stuff and I did not stop for a while. I realized how much I spent once I reached the billing counter!

I went to one of the restaurants under Court No. 1 and picked up a bowl of fresh strawberries and cream. Eating strawberry and cream is a part of Wimbledon tradition. I had decided to do everything you are supposed to do when you are at Wimbledon. I was doing just that!

After a while, I came back on the Hill and picked a spot to sit for the match.

The match started on time.

Federer won the toss and decided to serve first. And guess what?! Murray broke 10

Federer's serve in the first game. I was not worried though. Murray took the first set (6-4) in style and all Scots and Brits on the Hill cheered aloud! Now, I was concerned.

Federer fans were there too; many of those were sporting the red Swiss flag on their tees simply kept quiet.

I was very restless till the last point of second set, which Roger took with a drop shot, winning 7-5.

All of a sudden, people on the mound started moving off the Hill! Meanwhile, I went to the Wimbledon Museum. I loved the tour! I was looking at everything in there in awe, like a 10-year-old geeky kid visiting a science museum for the first time in his life. The museum consisted of a range of cups, plates, medals, players' c o s t u m e s , k i t s , j e w e l r y, memorabilia, paintings and so the list continues. It also had medals, programs, clothing and archived materials associated with the history of tennis within the Olympic movement. Being a tennis fan, a sports enthusiast in general, and with the tennis of London 2012 Olympic Games taking place at Wimbledon within the next three weeks, I was very fascinated for the current and upcoming sports events. I saw

Roger's and Rafa's Gold Medals at the Museum

Nadal and Federer's Gold medals from the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. To see John McEnroe's ghost through a projection of him was fun! In the end of the museum tour, I saw both Gentlemen's and Ladies' Champion trophies.

The men's trophy bears the inscription: ‘All England Lawn Tennis Club Single Handed Championship of the World.' It was so great to see Roger's name on it, from 2003-2007 and 2009. At that moment, I was not sure if I was going to see the Old King lifting that trophy again in a few hours.

The Ladies' round trophy is called as the Venus Rosewater Dish. Serena Williams honorably held the trophy in her hands the day before the men's singles final.

Later, I came back on the Hill.

I met two of my friends from the summer school there. They were both Federer fans too.

Between Murray fans, Federer fans, and the tennis fans in general, nobody knew what was going to happen when the game resumes. The atmosphere on the Hill and the Centre Court was all stormy!

A

round five o' clock, the match resumed on Centre Court. In about half an hour, Federer served to take the third set, 6-3. Federer was unbelievable in that set!

After the rain interruption, Murray had been a little out of his game. On the other hand, Federer returned determined to win and reduced the number of unforced errors. Federer was looking better than Murray, both mentally and physically.

Fred Perry- Still the last Brit to win the Championship In the fourth set, Federer was playing his natural game, moving all over the court, hitting forehand, backhand, volley and keeping service. It seemed like everything was going well for Federer. Andy was not playing bad tennis, but he was unable to do what he did in the first set. It was 6 pm with Roger now leading 5-3.

One more game to win and change the history books forever. Murray was serving to stay in the match. He held his serve successfully and the

score went to Federer still leading 5-4. Now, Federer was serving for the match! I don't know what happened in the next minute. The scoreboard told me that Federer now has two match points! Federer nets the ball and Murray saves one match point. I took my camera out of my pockets and got ready to capture a historic picture through my own lens.

The next moment, Federer served and Murray's return landed wide! That's all. Game!

Set! Match! Click!

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The return of the King!

and Members' Enclosure is. A small bridge there connects to the area from Centre Court directly. Many people gathered there but I did not know why.

Someone told me that Federer was coming there to greet all his fans after he was done with the press. All I was thinking was, “Are you serious?!” We waited there for a while.

Roger Federer, now 30 years old, won his 7th Wimbledon title, 17th Grand Slam overall and is back to being World No. 1 once again. I, 19, stand on Aorangi Terrace of Wimbledon and cheer aloud, screaming towards the sky, celebrating the victory of the person I love, adore and worship!

The victory ceremony was very emotional, for both Murray and Federer. Murray broke down in front of the local crowd. I looked around me. Every person I looked at tears in his or her eyes. Andy Murray had now become a national hero, not just to people in Scotland but everyone in United Kingdom was proud of him.

I felt bad for Murray too. He played great throughout the tournament and lived up to the expectations of people.

came Paul Annacone and Severin Luthi- Roger's camp!

They were obviously the happiest among everyone.

And then, He came!

Federer, with a big smile on his face, came on the bridge, waved his hands, blew some flying kisses towards the crowd, and said, “Thank you all!”

Roger Federer is the greatest player of All-Time. Wimbledon is the greatest tournament in the World. So being at Wimbledon to see Roger, and capturing this moment with him through my camera lens, was surely the greatest moment of my life!

Centre Court Entrance

Federer consoled Murray as Federer knew exactly what Murray was going through in that moment.

Then the moment came! The moment we all had been waiting for. Roger Federer received the trophy from Duke of Kent. He kissed the trophy and lifted it up! The crowd cheered in joy! I was so happy!

So delighted!

Once the ceremony was over, people started moving. I was happy and calm, but overwhelmed! Suddenly I felt like jumping and I jumped twice-thrice on the spot! My friends and I started walking through St. Mary's Walk passing Centre Court. We reached the area where Press Centre, Competitors' Complex

Roger Federer on the screen at Wimbledon, celebrating his win

Roger Federer through my camera lens, greeting fans After a few minutes, I saw Murray's legendary coach, Ivan Lendl, come out.

Everyone welcomed him with a good cheer. It was an honor to see him. Then, Lindsay Davenport and Martina Hingis crossed the bridge! They were both teary eyed; I figured that must be because of Murray's speech. Age 31 and Martina Hingis still looked great! Then 12

I could not believe what was happening! Federer, the Roger Federer, was in front of me, looking at me.

I screamed with joy and took two pictures of him with my camera.

I had never been this happy in my life.

I do not have the words to describe those feelings!

He was only there for a minute or two, but that was enough for me.

Before leaving the site, I told myself, “Abhijeet, you can die peacefully now!” :-)

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Winning Doubles Combinations - Ted Murray

O

ne of the fantastic things about tennis is that it is one of only a few sports that can be played individually as well as part of a team. Although the foundational skills are similar for the two versions of the sport, there is a much greater difference in the specific skills required for doubles versus singles than in sports like badminton and table tennis. Especially in the last two decades when the baseline game has dominated and the serve and volley game has practically disappeared from the singles scene that division has widened even more than in the past. This difference in playing styles is one of several reasons why there are so few players in today's sport who are successful in both singles and doubles. Before delving into all of the reasons let's first examine what I feel are the key qualities that make any doubles combination successful.

Complementary Playing Styles Most great partnerships have diverse and complementary styles of play that combine together to form an effective team. Seldom to players with very similar skill sets combine as effectively as possible in doubles. Most teams consist of a very aggressive player who acts as the finisher combined with a consistent, heady player who is expert at setting up his partner. Leander Paes is an excellent example of a set-up player.

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Of course, he is explosive and dominating at the net; however, on return of serve he is a master of the chip backhand return that is seldom a winner but allows his partner to poach often on the next shot. His serve also is not dominating; however, it is consistently deep and usually to the backhand, again helping to set up his partner for the poach. This type of player generally plays the deuce side of the court. The add court player is generally the bigger more explosive partner, as they will usually take more overheads and forehand volleys up the middle. They are more often able to gamble on big return of serves if their steady partner consistently gives them the advantage by winning their return point.

Mahesh and Rohan

You can see that Leander has had much success with a partner like Mahesh Bhupati with his explosive serve and height at the net.

Mahesh has certainly benefitted by having someone like Leander to create opportunities for him to dominate. Although Mahesh and Rohan Bopanna have had some success playing together this year, their partnership is one where they are almost too similar in playing style to maximize their potential. Of course, having two explosive serves is a great starting point for a doubles team in today's professional world and they are both excellent volleyers; however, when it comes to returning, they are both quintessential add court players.

Rohan achieved his initial success with Qureshi, a perfect complement of a small, quick, solid deuce court player. It will be interesting to see whether or not Rohan and Mahesh remain together next year, since their primary motivation was to play together at the London Olympics. In my opinion, they are simply too similar in style to be consistently effective against all types of opponents.

When examining playing styles, another factor is lefty-righty combinations. Many of history's great teams were lefty-righty, such as McEnroe/Fleming, Bryan Brothers, Woodforde/Woodbridge, Navratilova/Shriver, Laver/Emerson, Newcombe/Roche. The advantage of being able to avoid having to serve into the sun, the effectiveness of the lefty slice serve out wide, and the ability to choose whether to have both forehands either up the middle or out wide for returns provides infinitely more flexibility and combinations than does a righty/righty combination. Even among the top singles players today, lefty Nadal has been the most effective, winning several of the infrequent doubles tournaments he enters.

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O

ne thing that all these great teams share in playing style is that they all are comprised of exceptional volleyers. Martina is without doubt the finest volleyer ever in the women's game. Leander is most likely the best net player of all time among the men when you consider that his volley is really the only world-class weapon he possesses (besides his quickness and competitive smarts) and yet he has won numerous grand slams with a wide range of partners. The volley is still the one essential quality both players must share to remain at the top. It requires lightning fast reflexes and fearlessness, perhaps something that Indian players have developed in early childhood experience of playing cricket and hockey. It is the lack of expertise in volleying that is perhaps preventing the younger generation from establishing themselves in doubles and why most of the top-ranked doubles players are well into their 30s.

Compatible Personalities and Emotional Make-up In order for a partnership to thrive over the long term there must be a positive chemistry between the two players. This is one reason why Mahesh chose to play with Rohan this year instead of Leander.

Although their games mesh beautifully, Leander and Mahesh have struggled for a long time with their inability to get along. There is a great deal 16

of ego involved in tennis. In doubles, there must be an ability to work together without allowing the egos to get in the way. Often one player is the acknowledged leader of the team while the other is more comfortable in the follower

time spent together has deepened their relationship and thus their desire to play together. Just as with the complementary nature of games, great teams often have a mix of distinct personality types. Often one is the

Communication All great teams have excellent communication. If players truly understand the game they can still be effective with minimal verbal communication, because the roles of each

see between points is often deciding where the serve will be placed and whether or not the server's partner will poach.

With the recent popularity of the server's partner standing in the middle of the court, this decision is even more

of awareness. The almost telepathic communication between the Bryan brothers has helped them become the most winning team of all time.

The same may be said of the Williams sisters when they play together at Grand Slams or the Olympics. There have been other notable brother doubles combinations of the past, such as the Gullickson twins as well as the Jensen brothers. Even Thailand has a brother team, the Ratiwatanas, who achieved much more as a doubles team than either could have in singles. Although you may not be playing with a sibling, you should communicate in a way that is open, honest, and direct, and be willing to share as much as possible with your doubles partner. Communication is the important glue that is needed to hold a team together through the ups and downs of competitive play.

Doubles Understanding and Strategy

Lefty-righty combination of Bryan Brothers

role. When both players desire the same role, conflict often results.

It is very helpful to enjoy the company of your partner.

Mahesh and Rohan have shared a coach and trainer for many years and share a December training camp, along with Sania Mirza. This

emotional spark plug while the other is the more balanced and consistently focused member of the team. This mix works well as long as the differences are understood and seen as an asset. When these differences begin to be a distraction or a disturbance to the other player then difficulties often arise.

position are so ingrained that the movement and reactions are instinctive. However, the truly masterful teams are usually those who discuss and plan between each and every point. The doubles game is one of fixed plays when serving or receiving in addition to instinctive reaction to situations. The discussion you

important. During the point the communication is obviously immediate: “switch, mine, yours, leave it”, etc. are some of the necessary ways of letting your partner know what you expect of them.

It is in this area of communication that it seems like siblings have an extra level

This is perhaps the area that prevents today's excellent singles players from making an impact on the doubles scene as well. It is has what enabled players like Leander, Mahesh, Nestor, Bjorkman, or Knowles and on the ladies side Lisa Raymond and Liezel Huber to have remained at the top of the doubles rankings while nearing their 40th birthdays.

Many of the younger players simply try to adopt their baseline style to doubles and attempt to blow balls past net players with power. Those who

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take the net at every opportunity and play with both players nearly side by side instead of one up and one back love the challenge of creating a wall at the net and using the pace to volley back winners.

They recognize the essential strategy of covering the middle while being very selective about hitting down the line.

Less experienced players often attempt to hit down the line too early in the point and therefore hand the volleyer an easy angled put away up the middle between the two opponents.

Singles players often try to hit aces out wide on the serve, thereby negating the partner's ability to poach effectively since they have to cover the line. The ace mentality too often creates the need to hit many second serves, thus giving the opponents the chance to take the offense.

More experienced doubles players get in a high percentage of first serves designed to set up their partner for easy volleys or overheads at the net.

Leander's net play

There are many other reasons why today's game has very few players who are highly ranked in both singles and doubles.

The nature of the tour often forces solid singles players like Max Mirnyi and Rohan Bopanna to become doubles specialists if the singles ranking drops too low. The choice then becomes playing challengers and satellite tournaments (with little money to be made) to lift the singles rankings or play the major tournaments in doubles only.

Eventually, they don't play enough singles events to maintain a decent singles ranking, even though they have the potential to defeat much higher ranked players as has often happened in Davis Cup play.

The physical demands of the sport make it very difficult for most players to play singles and doubles on a weekly basis.

The one time many play both is in the two-week masters events such as Indian Wells and Miami. Here Lopez/Nadal have won, and a number of singles players play, since there are more days between

matches. Leander's current partner Radek Stepanek is one of the few who is ranked in the top 40 in both singles and doubles, but it is definitely a challenge. They might have been partners for the past 7 years after they teamed for the first time in winning the doubles at the Del Ray Beach tournament in 2004. However, Stepanek did so well in singles that fall that he decided he had to focus on only his singles game and left Leander to seek another partner. Seeing the success have had this year it is tempting to speculate on how well they could have done over the years if the tour was more conducive to players competing in both versions of the sport.

I just hope that future generations will be encouraged to play more doubles, while developing their shots, communication, temperament and understanding of doubles. This would create more wellrounded players, while making the sport of tennis more exciting to play and fun to watch.

CNN's Open Court's Rare Interview with Andre Agassi & Steffi Graf

P

The “Golden Couple” of tennis talk about their Olympic memories

atrick Snell travels to Las Vegas to meet Andre Agassi & Steffi Graf, the “golden couple” of tennis, to talk about their Olympic memories.

SNELL: Both of you are so decorated in your field of expertise. Thirty Slam titles between you. How does that stack up against all of those Slam titles?

profession, it puts everything into perspective. When you are in the context of all these amazing athletes who dedicate their lives for this sort of, one moment.

She was known as Fraulein Forehand for her trademark shot. Steffi Graf won twenty two Grand Slams singles titles, second on the all time list. He brought flair, flash and style to the men's game. Andre Agassi won every Slam there was to win. And in 1988 she was grand, winning all four Slams and an Olympic gold medal in Seoul. He followed suit in 1996, winning an Olympic gold medal in Atlanta.

GRAF: To me that was bigger than a Grand Slam. This was more special, you know, standing on the podium and listening to the National Anthem, having the medal around your neck, having other athletes there to support you. It is a different feeling, it is very unique and definitely more special.

GRAF: I have a lot of great memories. Starting with, I left Frankfurt on that flight with a lot of athletes, and I grew up admiring track and field, that was one of the sports we watched a lot of on television, and I loved track and field myself. There were a lot of track and field athletes on board and it was just, for me, just being part of the Olympics.

I stayed in the village for quite a

AGASSI: I think it puts your life and your hard work and your

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few days but it got too loud and noisy and then I had to move back to the hotel. Just experiencing being among everybody. I was out with some of the boxing - I went to see some of the track and field, the swimming competitions. I really was trying to take it all in, but also tried to play and be able to get through the first few rounds and playing for the gold medal, it was extraordinary.

SNELL: And nothing like a bit of pressure from Dad to spur you on.

AGASSI: Well, I guess fear could be a great motivator.

SNELL: This is my first trip to Las Vegas and I like what I see, but you are born and raised here, your kids are growing up here, how special a place is this?

AGASSI: Well if you like what you see just arriving, stick around. I love living here. First of all, where you live pales in comparison to who you live with.

GRAF: Yes, having my mom here and my brother and his kids, having my family and Andre's family around us, on the weekends, even last night, having a barbecue, and having

AGASSI: I remember how much I was so thankful for the preparation I put in, and I remember being on that podium, I remember feeling seeing so many times over the years what someone might be feeling when that gold medal is around their neck and tears came to my eyes. My father in the crowd was an Olympic boxer so I was enjoying it on a lot of levels.

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SNELL: I noticed something Andre, around your neck, Daddy Rocks! I can guess where that may have come from, talk about that.

AGASSI: My son made it for me when he was four and a half years old and the only help he asked for was to help him spell it at the time because he wanted to do a necklace and he had all the beads there, and I said, “What are you going to write?” And he said, “Daddy Rocks.” So I spelled it for him, he put it on, and I haven't taken it off in about six years.

GRAF: And you can barely read the letters.

SNELL: Is mom getting an equivalent? Tell us a little bit about your kids. How are they?

SNELL: You mentioned your father and his past Olympic experiences, how special was that to actually have him there on that occasion?

AGASSI: It was a real big deal for me, it was a big deal because tennis is a sport that is so lonely and to be able to play it for someone else, for something else, for something bigger than you, yet still connected to you. It is a great sense of fulfilment. It was an out of body experience. When I was a boy, tennis was not in the Olympics, but it was one of the many things that my father had predicted in my life, that tennis should be in the Olympics, will be in the Olympics and you are going to win a gold medal. So being on that podium was a boyhood dream in many respects.

all the kids together, all the cousins together, it is just very comforting and something that we share of importance- a close family.

AGASSI: Unbelievable.

Healthy, strong.

GRAF: A lot of different interests.

up her mind which direction she is going.

AGASSI: Yeah.

SNELL: Just before we go, a bit of trivia for you. I have been doing my homework. I spent hours researching who you beat on route to the '96 Olympic gold, I am not going to ask you specifically to name names, but let me just throw a few at you.

GRAF: Very active, they keep us on our toes.

AGASSI: Ten and eight years old. We are officially professional chauffeurs, we are professional cooks, we are professional babysitters.

GRAF: The best job in the world.

SNELL: Do they ever pick up a racquet?

AGASSI: A couple times a week.

GRAF: Jazz will play a little bit, and Jayden is very focused on his baseball. When we go over to grandpa's he will get on the court and play a little bit. He has a lot of talent, but baseball is his sport. And Jazz will play a little bit, she is the one that will try everything, a little tennis, a little hip hop, a little horseback riding, piano, she hasn't made

AGASSI: 7-6, 7-6.

SNELL: Cadenzi?

AGASSI: Cadenzi, I was down a set at the break and I beat him 6-3 in the third. Quarter finals went forever. He served for the match, 5-4 in the third and I ended up beating him 7-5 in the third. Leander Paes, who I beat in two rough sets, 7-6, 64, and then Sergi Bruguera.

SNELL: Yes. It has been a real pleasure. Thank you very much.

Interview with Fernando Gonzalez - Chile's triple Olympic tennis medallist The gold medals don't stop there, as 'Open Court' also meets Chile's Fernando Gonzalez. The recently-retired star tells Cash what it was like to win three of Chile's thirteen medals.

(L-R) Sergi Bruguera of Spain wins silver, Andre Agassi of the USA wins gold and Leander Paes of India wins bronze in the men's singles tennis event at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia on August 3, 1996.

CASH: One of Chile's best known sportsman, a legend in Latin America, Fernando Gonzalez has won three Olympic tennis medals, a box set of gold, silver and bronze.

In Beijing, he shared the

podium with Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. In Athens, he won the doubles gold with countryman, Nicolas Massu. I got a chance to catch up with him during a short stop in London.

You are very special, we have three cameras. For Pete Sampras, we only had two.

FERNANDO GONZALEZ: I wish to the play the Olympics because in Sydney I couldn't qualify, and then I was very excited to go to Athens. I knew Chile never got so many medals in the history. There is only thirteen in [its] history (ph) and I was very proud of myself.

CASH: What was it like going home, having those gold medals? Did you have a party?

GONZALEZ: Yeah, all the people were on the Streets (ph) Palace and we had breakfast with him. We went on the balcony, a very popular balcony that only a few people went out there and there was a lot of people, a few thousand people. The square was full of people and it was very exciting.

I never dreamed that tennis can get the chance to have that experience.

CASH: Tell me about this magnificent forehand, how did you develop it?

GONZALEZ: I grew up on a clay court. I lived right across the street from the tennis club and I was playing against older people. When someone doesn't have somebody to

play, they go and knock on the door of my house and I go out.

Sometimes I didn't want to p l a y, b u t i t w a s a n embarrassment for me to say I don't want to play tennis, so I go anyway. So I hit every single time as hard as I can.

CASH: Powered by his trademark forehand, Gonzalez reached number five in the world. He faced Roger Federer in the 2007 Australian Open final. He came up short, but played some of the best tennis of his life. Earlier this year Gonzalez retired from professional tennis to return to Santiago. He is hopeful that his Olympic success will inspire young Chileans to play tennis.

Interview with Malek Jaziri - Tunisia's only male player from Africa and the Arab World

CASH: We have heard from previous Olympic winners just what the Olympics means to them. But what about somebody competing for the first time? Well, Tunisia's Malek Jaziri is the only male player from Africa and the Arab World. As Neil Curry reports, his story is a remarkable one.

NEIL CURRY, REPORTER: A little more than eighteen months ago, Tunisia was in the throws. The people's revolution, what began, became known as the Arab Spring. The uncertainty of a revolution is far from the ideal preparation for a tennis 22

tournament but it has coincided with a remarkable progression through the rankings from Malek Jaziri. He has risen almost three hundred places to number sixty seven in the world. I found Malek relaxing at home watching the Wimbledon Men's final. He was playing in the tournament himself a week earlier when he heard he had made the cut for the Olympics.

MALEK JAZIRI, OLYMPIC TENNIS PLAYER: After my match they told me I was going to the Olympics, I was quite happy, I was happy for [winning] my match, first time in Wimbledon, and to have the chance to play the Olympics. I am very proud to represent Africa and all African countries.

I received a lot of wishes from Africans, and people that support me.

This is the city of my dream, my love here. My family is here, it is a very interesting city. (inaudible) of Africa. When I am here and in my city, I am at home.

CURRY: If you win the Olympics, are you going to jump in there?

JAZIRI: If I win it, I will do it.

CURRY: Malek was just two years old when he got his hands on his first racquet, and it wasn't long before he was spending time at his local tennis club.

JAZIRI: This is the club, Club de Champion, it means 'Club of the Champions.' So you are welcome.

CURRY: Thank you very much. Oh, it is clay court.

JAZIRI: Yes, clay court.

CURRY: Is that the French influence?

JAZIRI: Yes, this club in 1928, it is a very old club and always has been clay all these years. It is a very nice club.

CURRY: What is special about this court, Malek, I wonder?

JAZIRI: This court has a lot of memories for me. This court, where I started to play, it is a gift for me from the club and from the city to name this court as my name.

CURRY: (inaudible) has another French connection, the aviator and keen tennis player, Roland Garros, whose name is given to the French Open was the first pilot to cross

the Mediterranean and he landed here.

JAZIRI: This is the place where Roland Garros crashed his plane in my city here in the war, so it is in memory of Roland Garros, they make him a place in my city and so you can see 1888, he died in 1918.

CURRY: Roland Garros, who gives his bane to the French Open. It has a big connection with you and your city. That is amazing.

Malek's recent success followed a series of setbacks.

Injuries cost him two years of his career. Without sponsorship, he has travelled the tennis circuit alone, relying on the support of his family. But since breaking the top one hundred, that is beginning to change. Both coach and fitness trainers are on hand to [help] him through a punishing four hour workout with scorching temperatures above 43 degrees.

JAZIRI: I was practicing [when] it was very very hot to practice and to play and to travel. The airport was closed, and we had helicopters shooting, so [it was] very hard to play.

*CNN International is a 24-hour news channel which reacts to live events and breaking news. Therefore, program schedules are subject to change at short notice. For more information, please visit www.cnnasiapacific.com

TENNIS INDIA SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2012

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Interview with Sheetal Kannamwar Iyer

Fortunately, there was an ITF officiating Level II School in Mumbai, which I attended and cleared in 1999.

2.

- Asia's First Women's Gold Badge Referee

S

heetal Iyer, based in Pune in the state of Maharashtra, passed the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Level II (White Badge) School in Mumbai in 1999. In 2003, she was one of the few white badge officials in Asia to be selected

by ITF to work as referee for its professional women's events.

In 2004, Iyer was selected for the Level III Silver Badge referee school, which she cleared that same year. Iyer was promoted to the highest officiating position of the ITF officials' hierarchy in 2007 when she was awarded with the Gold Badge referee by the ITF. Iyer has worked as a referee in many major Women's Tennis Association (WTA) and ITF events like Davis Cup, Fed Cup ties, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, Futures and many more in various countries across the globe.

She represented India at the coveted World Youth Cup in Hong Kong as well. As a tennis player, she was ranked India No. 2 under 16 &18 and No.1 in the girls under 14, 16, and 18 in the State, as well as No. 2 in ladies. She is the recipient of the Tuljabhawani Sports Award and the Ryan International Foundation's Woman of the Year Award in Delhi.

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Did you yourself play tennis growing up?

Sheetal: It was one of the happiest moments in my life, and [a] dream [come] true, as there are not many Gold Badge women referees in the world.

6.

Sheetal: Yes I have been a tennis player since my childhood. I was ranked No.1 in the girls under 14, 16, and 18 in the State and No. 2 in Ladies. I was [also] ranked No. 2 in Girls under 16 in India and was a member of the Indian team for the World Youth Cup in Hong Kong.

3.

Sheetal: First, you have to be a national[ly] certified umpire, then clear the ITF Level II school (White Badge). [After] looking at your work experience, the ITF selects you for the Silver Badge exam. There are no exams to become a Gold Badge referee. The Gold Badge is awarded by the ITF looking at the evaluations, [your] experience, and the work one has put in [as a referee].

What was your first experience with tennis?

Sheetal: I was introduced to the game of tennis by my father at the age of 10.

4.

Currently she is the member of the All India Tennis Association tournament committee and coordinator of Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association officiating.

Tennis India Magazine: Thank you for being an inspiration to women all over the world, especially in India. Your achievements are c o m m e n d a b l e . Yo u r dedication has paved the way for the women who want to play a larger role in the tennis world and sports in general.

Sheetal: I'm happy that I have been able to inspire women, especially girls who have played tennis before, to start a career in officiating and stay in the sport they have spent their childhood [with].

On Inspiration, Determination, and Support 1.

When and how did you decide to pursue officiating tennis as a career, while living in a country where tennis isn't the most popular sport?

Sheetal: After I stopped playing competitive tennis, I took up coaching tennis for some time. I wanted to be associated with the sport in some capacity. I was involved with organizing some tennis events. At that time, my brother was involved with officiating, [so] I decided to follow his footsteps.

Who would you say has been your biggest supporter throughout your extraordinary journey?

7.

Sheetal: Four men in my life have been my greatest supporters in my journey so far: my father, Sharad Kannamwar , my husband, Sunder, son, Atharva , and my brother, Nitin.

As becoming a Gold Badge Referee made you the first women's ITF Gold Badge referee in all of Asia, how does it feel to be such a landmark figure in the tennis world?

As you are a female referee from a country that mostly has male representation in sports related careers, what steps did you take to get to a point of competing with the male referees?

Sheetal: At least in [the world of] tennis, there is equality in growth opportunities for everyone. It was not difficult to get along with my male colleagues. In India or abroad, we all work as a team and not competitors.

On Becoming Asia's First Women's ITF Gold Badge Referee 5.

What all does one has to do in order to be rewarded the honor of becoming a Gold Badge Referee?

8.

Were there any significant obstacles that you faced because you are a female referee?

Sheetal: Actually, none.

9.

Being a Gold Badge referee, you get opportunities to travel around the world to grand slams and other tournaments to officiate matches. Do you have a favorite? Which tournaments do you like officiating the best?

Sheetal: As an Gold badge referee, I was able to work at many major events but my favorite would be the Asian games in Doha, Fed Cup in Australia and also the Davis Cup tie in Japan.

10. As you must have had to sit through and officiate some long matches, especially at the major tournaments, how do you personally train to stay attentive in those matches for such a long period of time? Is there any mental or physical training that goes into being a referee and even more, a Gold Badge referee, in the tennis world?

Sheetal: Actually, I don't sit on the chair for the matches as that is the chair umpire's duty. As a referee, I oversee the entire smooth conduct of the tournament. This is huge responsibility, as I represent ITF/WTA, look at the welfare of players, and also coordinate with the national associations.

To keep myself alert and active, I do yoga.

TENNIS INDIA SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2012

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INDIA MAGAZINE

September-October 2012

On the Game Changer: Sheetal's Insight on her Life and Career 11. B e i n g o n e o f t h e pioneers for women in Indian, as well as Asian, tennis and sports, what would your one piece of advice be for young women in India who are trying to take the less traveled road?

Sheetal: “Follow your dreams and believe in yourself. Success will always follow. “That's what I did.

12. What is your average day like? Traveling to various tournaments must create a pretty hectic lifestyle.

Sheetal: Yes, travelling does get very hectic, especially the long journ[ies] on planes, [and] transit time at the airport.

At tournaments, my day starts early and ends late as I have to work after all the matches [are] over, send[ing] the daily reports and plan[ing] for the next day. When I am home, I am quite relaxed and spend time with my family .

13. What is it like balancing family with your career?

Sheetal: With such a supporting and tennis loving family, it has been easy for me to balance family with my career.

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14. With your many years of serving in the tennis world, you have been able to officiate both men's and women's matches. What is it like to be a female referee at a men's match in comparison to a women's? Is the way of asserting authority different? Do you prefer one over the other?

Sheetal: In tennis, it has not been difficult. Initially, it took time for me to generate confidence in [the male] players. But, gradually over the years, most of them have seen me work and respect my abilities, as they know I'm fair and know that I do my job. Even at events like the Davis Cup, it becomes easy to work as [I] know most of the players. I enjoy working for the men's and women's events alike.

15. Fans have witnessed John McEnroe's intense rage carry forward with a different spark in more recent players, like Serena Williams. Such players have yelled at the referee many times for bad judgment calls.

How do you keep your cool in their moments of rage?

Sheetal: Being a player myself, I understand the mentality of the players and I know when I should be strict and keep [the] situation in control. There have been moments when players have been difficult, but using knowledge of the

rules and prior experiences, I've handled these situations successfully.

On The Future of Officiating Tennis 16. What do you think India can do to move towards encouraging more women to pursue sports related careers?

Sheetal: Sports presents a great opportunity for young girls to make a career. Ideally, sportspersons who retire from active sports should try and make career in the sport as coaches, officials, or even in administration.

From my side, I always try and speak to young girls who want to make a career in sports, especially in tennis.

17. O n e l a s t q u e s t i o n , regarding the future of tennis officiating. What one aspect would you improve about the officiating side of tennis?

Sheetal: None. Currently, India has over 50 officials who are nationally and internationally certified.

There is great unity amongst all of the officials.

We take workshops, and refresh[er] courses for officials [to update] them with new rules, techniques, and also guide new, upcoming probables .

g n si

r a St

d r a s V ' a i u d n In sh i V

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Ri

It is a dream come true for me to represent my country through my sport at the biggest and the oldest sporting event of the world. It is the result of the hard work and sacrifice of many people with me over the years.

A

Interview with n Introduction to Vishnu Vardhan

The player ranked No.1 at the state level in Andra since 2004, and recently played doubles with the legendary Leander Paes at the prestigious London Olympics, talks to Tennis India about who he is and how he has become the player he is today. Vishnu Vardhan is India's promise for future tennis success.

Coming from Secunderabad, Vardhan picked up a tennis racquet for the first time when he was eight years old. In June of 1996, Vardhan began

training under the instruction of Mr. C.V.Nagraj at The School of Power Tennis Academy, which would later be a very pivotal decision towards his current success. With Mr. Nagraj skilled coaching, Vardhan took his first Subjunior Open Nationals in 2001 and again in 2003. There in 2003 at the Junior Open Nationals, Vardhan went pro in the world of tennis at just 17.

Turning pro meant continuing to conquer more of the tennis world for Vardhan. He went on to win the 2007 Men's Open Nationals.

Vardhan later represented India at the Asian Hopman Cup

and was a reserve at the Davis Cup. Continuing his dominance, Vardhan won a Silver and Bronze Medal for India at the Asian Games 2010 in China. Later in September of 2011, Vardhan played for India the Davis Cup in Japan.

Vardhan plays in international tennis tournaments for 20- 25 weeks. His focus is improving in the ATP Challengers as well as dominating at the Grand slams.

Vishnu Vardhan continued his success at the London Olympics 2012, and now stands with aspirations of representing India at the Rio Olympics 2016.

Vardhan Stats All India Ranking (Singles) Atp Singles Atp Doubles Age Birthplace Residence Plays Racquet Father Mother Coach Academy School Started Playing Since (Age)

02 263 194 25 Secunderabad Secunderabad Right Handed Head Youtek Radical Mr. R Jagadeesan Mrs. Padmavathy Jagadeesan Mr. C V Nagraj The School Of Power Tennis D A V Public School, Safilguda 8

Name of the Tournament Olympics

Place & Date London July 27 - August 5, 2012

2.

ITF Men's Futures

3.

ITF Men's Futures

Mysore June 4 -10, 2012 Bangalore June 10 -16, 2012

Exceptional career performances

• • • •

30

TI: Tennis India Magazine, on behalf of all readers, congratulates you for being selected to represent India along with Leander Paes in the 32- teams Olympic Tennis events for the Men's doubles entry list. Having played the Asian Games and represented India in the Davis Cup, the readers of Tennis India Magazine are excited to know your feelings about playing for the country in the Olympics.

Vishnu: First. I would like to thank you all for your wishes. I have received immense support from everyone. I have always loved playing team events from a very young age. I enjoy the adrenaline, which you get while being a part of a team and competing. I feel [that the] Olympics is the pinnacle for any sportsperson to showcase his sporting talent. And I am very much honored and excited to be a part of the “Indian Olympic Contingent”. It is a dream come true for me to represent my country through my sport at the

biggest and the oldest sporting event of the world. It is the result of the hard work and sacrifice of many people with me over the years.

TI: What was it like at the London Olympics Village amongst the world's best athletes?

Vishnu: It is an amazing experience to stay at the Olympic Village among some of the best athletes in the world. We all would share the same dining hall, which had varied cuisine from all over the world. I do not think there is another place where you have all the different varieties of food in one room. To be at the Village is a once in a lifetime experience. I could meet the US basketball team, [Michael] Phelps, Tyson Gay, Usain Bolt and our very own Sushil Kumar, Vijender Singh, Gagan Narag, to name a few I [came] across there. And you can feel incredible amount of energy when you enter the gym at the Olympic Village. It is a huge infrastructure with the best equipments in the world and

Paes - Vishnu at London Olympics

Recent Achievements / Performance S.No. 1.

Tennis India

Result Doubles - Pre-quarter finals Singles - Round of 32 Singles - Winner Singles - Winner

Selected to represent India at 2012 London Olympics along with Leander Paes.

Played a live rubber of the tie on the third day at the Davis Cup World Group play-off against Kei Nishikori of Japan in September 2011.

Won the silver medal in the mixed doubles event with Sania Mirza at the Asian Games 2010.

Won the bronze medal in the men's team event at the Asian Games 2010.

you have the world's fittest athletes training there. I would just spend lot of my time at the gym training and just see them train. I was immensely motivated by it. In the evenings after dinner, we would spend some time relaxing at the games room in the village or by taking a walk around the village. I am going to cherish every moment spent at the Village for a lifetime.

…you can feel incredible amount of energy when you enter the gym at the Olympic Village. It is a huge infrastructure with the best equipments in the world and you have the world's fittest athletes training there.

TI: Leander and you went out with guns blazing 6-7(3), 6-4, 3-6 to the second-seeded JoWilfred Tsonga and Michael Llodra of France in the prequarterfinals of doubles in fading light at Wimbledon in the Olympics. Paes subsequently said, “One or two shots at the beginning of the third set could have turned the match in India's favour.” This clearly shows that you narrowly lost the match that put your opponents through to the finals. Does that inspire you to push yourself more and work even harder now?

Vishnu: It was one of the best tennis matches I have played and to play alongside my childhood idol, Leander was a huge thing for me. We had given it all on the court that day, knowing that we had our chances and we were so close to beating one of the best doubles team in the world. It was very emotional for me and Leander at the end of it, but coming out of the court, Leander and I knew that we put our heart and soul in that match, and that's what matters in the end. And by the end of the week to see that the team against whom we went down so close [at] the podium, does show how close we were, yet far.

TI: Leander Paes was in tears when he said that from all the negativity surrounding Indian tennis, he was thrilled to find you emerging as a world class player. Paes further said, “We prepared him specifically to play at 32

Wimbledon in the Olympics.

It is not an easy task. I can't tell you how impressed I am with the young kid. Vishnu has a big heart. Forget his height, his big serve, volleys and the groundstroke. He has the heart of a champion.” How did it feel to play with Paes?

Vishnu: My initial memories about [the] Olympics [start] when I was a year old as a tennis player and Leander won

And now having partnered [with] the same, very legendry sportsperson for the same event is just amazing, as the Olympics [were held] at the historic courts of Wimbledon, which is the Mecca for tennis players. the Bronze Medal at Atlanta, be[coming] the first sportsman [from] India to win an individual medal. That was a huge

inspiration for all of us as tennis players. We [looked] up to him.

And now having partnered [with] the same, very legendry sportsperson for the same event is just amazing, as the Olympics [were held] at the historic courts of Wimbledon, which is the Mecca for tennis players. It is just beautiful to be a part of all of this. Looking back its just feels an amazing journey. We gave our best efforts and had a great run, but unfortunately we fell short [in] the journey.

Leander was very helpful throughout the whole thing. He showed me around Wimbledon, took me into the champions locker room and during matches he always kept smiling. He was never perturbed about me making errors or hitting winners. He always kept saying, “Vish, let's just enjoy and have some fun,” and I never had so much fun on the courts- that got the best tennis [out of] me. He kept his cool and carried me, helping me play the best tennis I could possibly play. He is, for sure, one of the best doubles players tennis has ever seen and it was a lifetime experience to play alongside him. It is very inspiring to hear what Leander had to say about me.

TI: You have won the hearts of many Indian tennis fans by taking Paes's comments on your ”grass court tennis shoes “in a positive light and with humility. What are your comments on this, especially with your powerful serve and baseline game perfectly matching Paes's net-play?

Vishnu: Leander is huge inspiration for many tennis players. From the [first] day of my selection, Leander's team has been charting out a plan and program for me. Leander enjoy[s] and play[s] best with partners [with] a big serve and an overall big game. And I am happy that I could complement Leander's beautiful net play. I had been working on it and [it was] good to see it falling [in] place.

TI: What are your thoughts and reactions on Sania supporting you as a very talented player?

Vishnu: I have known Sania [for] a very long time, as we hail from the same city. She is an

incredible tennis player. I have a lot of respect for her. My first big event on the big stage, I played alongside her at the Asian Games in China. I was a no one at that time and was thrown in a huge opportunity to show my capability. It is from her [that] I learn[ed] how to handle the pressure of a big stage. We were unseeded getting in that tournament and won the silver medal to surprise everyone. She inspires and motivates a lot of tennis players and that's what her comments did to me.

TI: You have won back to back $10,000 ITF Men's Future tournaments at Mysore and Bangalore, both played on the hard court. Do you think these gave you confidence and better prepared you for the Olympics' matches, which are played on grass court?

Vishnu: Winning back to back ITF titles in India did [build] my confidence. It put me into the top 290 of the singles ranking at the ATP for the first time and that motivated me to work even harder for my mid season training, which I went through

The Olympics made me to look at things differently. To play at Rio will be a dream....[I] will try my best to play for India at Rio and hopeful[ly] for a podium finish right after those tournaments.

That made me a lot stronger, physically and mentally, to be even more prepared for the Olympics.

TI: Training a promising player to represent his or her country in the Olympics is any tennis coach's dream.

What role do you think your coach, Mr. C.V. Nagraj, at the School of Power Tennis (Secunderabad), played behind your success till now?

Vishnu: I owe him and his team a lot, which includes Sagai Raj, Gopal and Rama Krishna. To be honest, I do not think I would still be a tennis player if not for my coach, Nagraj, in my life. He has been a mentor, a father figure on court, a real guru to me for the last 17 years of my tennis career. He believed in pure hard work with discipline and always thought big. He would always looked at the bigger and larger picture. I still remember the day when I met him after the Asian games with my medals. He would always keep his excitement and happiness under wraps, the

TENNIS INDIA SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2012

33

first thing he told me was, “Vishnu, start working for the next Olympics,” and today I am here the first tennis player from Andhra to play at the Olympics.

That's how amazing his vision is. I am very happy that through me, he could taste this success at the international arena. This will motivate him to work even harder, for someone who has produced four junior and senior national winners and two Davis Cuppers- all started and raised under him.

TI: What is your advice to parents of young tennis players aspiring to go professional?

TI: Where do you practice?

Who are your practice partners and do you find it difficult to get practice partners in India?

Vishnu: I practice at the School of Power Tennis in Hyderabad. I practice with Saketh Sai and P C Vignesh.

Occasionally, I go to Delhi to practice, for more variety.

34

Favourite Men's Player of all time

Pete Sampras

Favourite Men's Player - current

Roger Federer

Favourite Women's player of all time

Steffi Graf

Favourite Women's player - current

Kim Clijsters

Favourite tournament

Wimbledon

Favourite city for tennis (in India and abroad)

Secunderabad & Europe

Favourite tennis shot

Serve

Favourite surface to watch

Hard court

well. After your experiences and lessons learned at the 2012 London Olympics, how do you feel about representing India at the Rio Olympics?

Best tennis moment of your past

Medal ceremony at the Asian Games & the chest bump with my idol Leander during the match at the Olympics

Worst tennis moment

When I twisted my ankle during a match in 2011.

Which other sports do you like apart from tennis?

Enjoy watching basketball and track and field

Vishnu: It would be amazing to play to alongside Leander on the Circuit. For that I need to get my ranking higher and I am working towards it. I could soak in so much knowledge during the fortnight I spent at the Olympics. It's now time to convert them onto the tour. The Olympics made me to look at things differently. To play at Rio will be a dream. I will know much [more] when I will have the next Olympics experience behind me. [I] will try my best to play for India at Rio and hopeful[ly] for a podium finish.

What is your message for parents of promising young Indian players?

Tennis requires a lot of patience and support from parents. Parents need to have a persistent approach towards the game.

Vishnu: Tennis is [a] sport [in which] you need a lot of patience. Parents should have a persistent approach towards the game. It is a sport where you lose more matches than you win. So, parents should be very supportive to their wards and make sure they enjoy the game, and not put any kind of pressure.

Vishnu with his Coach C.V.Nagraj He puts his heart and soul on the tennis court. There is a lot of support from his family which allows him to go about his tennis freely. He is the perfect example of a “Guru” and I am fortunate to be raised under him.

Rapid Fire Tennis Questions

TI: How was your sponsor support from “ONGC”?

Vishnu: ONGC plays a vital role in helping sportspersons in the country. I am employed by them and they take very good care of their sportspersons.

They also offer incentives on exceptional performances. I would like to thank Head S p o r t s , M r. Vi r e n d r u Mahendru, and my controlling office, Mr. V N Prem Prakash, for their support in the company and helping me out with all my requirements.

TI: Paes said that he was looking forward to playing with you on the circuit as

Off-beat Questions Sports played while growing up

Tennis

First experience of holding a tennis racquet

After shaking hands with my coach for the first time, he asked me to shake hands with my racquet and that's my first experience of holding it.

Question most asked by the public

Especially on the Indian circuit, "What do you eat? You have become so tall.”

Greatest change you would like to see in tennis

The players are getting stronger and stronger and the racquets faster. So the game is going to get so much more physical and faster

The person you've learned the most from

It is tough to just name one. There are so many people in different stages of my life that I have learned from.

How will you like to be remembered

Just as "Vishnu Vardhan", as the person I am

Other interests in your life

Yoga & harmonica

Pet name

Vish, Vishi

What you never leave home without

Cellphone & wallet

TENNIS INDIA SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2012

35

Off-beat Questions One bad habit you wish you could get rid of

Tend to get really lazy on off days

Favourite actor

Adam Sandler

Favourite actress

Drew Barrymore

Any superstitions

Nothing specific

What's the one thing you are most afraid of?

Getting into a roller coaster ride

Don't Let Your

Emotions

One piece of advice to youngsters

There is no free 'lunch’

Sporting motto

No short cuts 'Hardwork’

Favourites Food

Mom's dal chawal Biryani/Butter Rumali Roti with Butter Chicken

Holiday destination

Anywhere with nature

Hobby

Reading books & movies

Movie-Bollywood and Tollywood

3 idiots & Ashta Chamma (Telugu)

Book

The Power of Now

Colour

Sky blue

Drink

Apple juice with sparkling water

Love of your life

My family

A word describing you

Simple

Lifestyle Questions with Vishnu TI: You are having a dinner party and can invite four people from the world of tennis. Who would you invite?

TI: Which tournament gets the best looking spectators?

TI: Your favorite movies and TV serials?

Vishnu: It's best when the stands are full of tennis enthusiasts.

Vishnu: Remember the titans, Stomp the Yard, 3 idiots, Friends, How I met your mother.

Vishnu: Pete Sampras, Andre TI: What's your fitness Agassi, Rafael Nadal & Roger mantra?

Federer.

Vishnu: Track workouts, Gym TI: One dish that tennis & Yoga. players should resist TI: Favourite Bollywood / eating?

Tollywood singer(s)?

Vishnu: Blueberry Cheese Vishnu: Mohit Chauhan, cake.

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and S.P. Balasubramanium.

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TI: Your favorite genre of music?

Vishnu: Indian TI: If you could choose one beauty queen or actress to take for dinner, who would you choose?

Vishnu: Drew Barrymore.

Control You!

- Avi Mehrotra

I

t is natural for a person to let out internal anger at crucial times. My question is, why does the anger even accumulate? You should ideally be transparent, letting the anger go through you instead of storing it. Some people have a less “anger storage capacity” than others.

The outcome is the same, as it is only a matter of time before the anger erupts. The outburst comes in the form of screaming, banging your racquet, hitting yourself and other reactions. These reactions are affecting you negatively but positively affecting your opponent. He gains confidence while you are losing focus, thereby you are brewing him a winning formula for the match. If you don't overcome this emotional breakdown, the match will slip out of your hands before you know it.

Roger Federer is the world's best player for a reason. He doesn't let anger affect him at all. It seems like it isn't even produced in him. Even if it does, he lets it go, not giving it any importance and therefore maintains a steady focus throughout his matches. I agree that this is easier said

than done and developing such a high level of emotional control is very hard. If Roger can do it, so can you! However, following the same methods to control anger as Roger does would be wrong. You, as an individual, are different and unique. What helps Roger may or may not help you. Your weaknesses may not be similar to his. So, it is wise to work on your own skills based on what you lack, while using Roger's emotional control as inspiration.

There are short and long term measures that help work on emotions and negativity. It is important to learn how to manage your emotions and body language while playing the match. However, one has to work equally as hard off-the court to strengthen one's mind and develop maturity in the game.

Manage Your Emotions To manage emotions while you are playing is the first and most important step in the whole process of “anger management”. Here are few techniques to make it happen: •

C'MON! Let out a shout after winning a point, like a C'MON! This is not to intimidate the opponent, as this has nothing to do with the opponent. Letting out a 'C'mon' is just for you to get a surge of adrenaline throughout your body and perform better.

•

Establish rituals. You may have rituals but you don't know that yet. Rituals in

TENNIS INDIA SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2012

37

•

38

Think and behave like a winner. Thinking like a winner and showing a positive body language in a match boosts your confidence and drains the opponent's. You will hit the ball more cleanly and with more confidence. Show the opponent who is the boss, and certainly make them feel like you're there to win!

tennis are basically actions done before and after a point to maintain your momentum. The catch is to identify them and use them when you feel threatened in a point. It is also necessary to consistently perform them in order to maintain that constant rhythm throughout the match.

•

Stay in the 'here and now'. Focus on the current point, not the previous one.

Many players, including myself, make this mistake.

Remember that the point in hand is more important than the one that just ended. Players tend to focus more on the previous point rather than the current. They are intimidated either by their fascination of how they w o n i t o r t h e disappointment of losing it, and therefore, are not ready for the point at hand.

Players also start thinking ahead, to winning the game, set or match. The challenge is not to remove your thoughts from the task at hand. By staying in the 'here and now' you will definitely be taking care of business with relatively more ease, as you are in one moment, mentally, and not pulled by different thoughts. Usually, when a player begins to give up on a match, he has left the 'here and now' and is dealing with the premature emotions of losing the match.

Body Language

that you have nothing to hide and you are willing to take on your opponent with f u l l p o i s e a n d determination. You are sending the message that you are looking to move forward. By doing this seemingly little action, your confidence will increase significantly.

•

Your body language also has a big impact on your game and confidence. It shows the opponent your physical and most importantly, mental status in between points. To develop your confidence in a match or rather boost it, you need to show it. The following ways will help you do that.

•

•

Eye contact. Make sure your eyes have that focused and determined look in them and not a blank unsure gaze. Stare at your opponent like a tiger ready to attack its prey. You probably won't scare him or her but you will definitely make your opponent nervous. No matter what you call it, this will send a message that you're fearless and ready to pounce at the given opportunity. A perfect example for this would be Rafael Nadal.

Keep your head up. Don't look down at the ground between points. That shows that you're in a state of regret and depression. It makes you lose confidence. By keeping your head up, you show

•

Smile please! During the heat of the battle, it is a good thing to smile. It means you are in the moment and loving it! Smile when you lose an easy point as it will just absorb the frustration and make you forget about it. When you lose a point, your opponent gets a bit of confidence, but when you smile, he or she doesn't.

That's because when you smile, he senses that there is nothing wrong with youthat the point lost hasn't affected you and you are ready to fight. Also, by smiling you are telling your brain and body that nothing is wrong; such a reaction simply signals to improve the intensity of play and win.

Don't slouch. Winners don't slouch and neither should you! If you do slouch, you are draining yourself of confidence unknowingly. You really could use that confidence to enhance your performance in the match.

Negative Thinking In the long run, negative thinking is something players should avoid.

All negative thinking should not necessarily be avoided but most should.

The type of negative thinking that should be avoided is the 'give-up negative thinking', while the type that can be developed to an extent is the 'fire up negative thinking'.

Remember the Chinese proverb, “A person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.”

Body language, emotions and negative thinking are just parts of the game, whether good or

bad. It is up to you, as a player, to use the positives in them to strengthen your game. If you do, you will become a solid and consistent player, who is very hard to beat. http://avimehrotratennis.word press.com/

'Give-up negative thinking' is pretty harmful. If you had trouble doing a drill, exercise or playing a match against someone, and thought, “I'm so bad at this, I can't do it,” then you probably won't be able to.

That's because the thought has already entered your subconscious mind and you will probably have a really hard time developing yourself to complete and win that particular task. 'Give-up negative thinking' also causes you to dwell on the past, focusing on mistakes and bad results in recent matches. This hurts your confidence, focus and motivation. There is never a place for 'give-up negative thinking' in a player's mind.

‘Fire-up negative thinking' produces anger, energy and gets you psyched up for the match. It creates a sort of motivational anger in you to do better on the court after feeling like you did poorly. The focus of the 'fire-up negative thinking' is to do better in the future. As a result, 'fire-up thinking' can be very useful. However, it shouldn't last more than a few days because emotions and anger use up a lot of energy, which can be valuable for training.

TENNIS INDIA SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2012

39

TI: How were you first introduced to tennis, and who do you most credit for your present achievements?

Simran: My uncle, Mr. Vijay Choudhury, give me a racket as my 5th birthday present. He introduced me to Practennis, founded by Mr. D.S. Rama Roa, as well as, the Practennis staff, especially S.V. Kiran Kumar & Rajesh Kanchan.

TI: Where are you presently training? Who is your coach and what was his / her role in making you a promising player?

Simran: At Practennis; under the guidance of Mr. D.S. Rama Rao & S.V. Kiran Kumar.

TI: Who is your favorite tennis player and why?

Meet TI's

Simran: Rafael Nadal for his aggression & commitment.

Promising Players

TI: What are your goals for the current 2012 season?

Simran: Want to reach Girls U-14's top 15 in India.

TI: What are the financial challenges that Indian parents are facing to meet the expenses of tennis tours in India and abroad?

Simran: It's a chicken and egg story- till I perform I will have no sponsor support, and until then my parents have to bear all the expenses.

TI: What is your message to young kids who have recently taken up tennis?

Simran: They should enjoy playing tennis, especially the small victories. They should not stress about performing well, they should just enjoy the game.

Simran Kejiriwal, Girls U-12 AITA RANKING (Under -12)

2

AITA RANKING (Under -14)

33

AGE

12

BIRTHPLACE

Mumbai

RESIDENCE

Mumbai

Simran with coach D.S. Rama Rao

PLAYS

Right Handed

RACQUET

BABOLAT

FATHER

Varun Kejiriwal

MOTHER

Arti Kejiriwal

COACH

Mr. D.S. Rama Rao and Mr. S.V. Kiran Kumar

ACADEMY

Practennis

SCHOOL

Billabong High International School, Juhu

STARTED PLAYING SINCE (AGE)

7

Recent Performance S. No.

Name of The Tournament

Place & Date

Result

1.

SS Panchgani

Panchgani, June 2012

U-12 Singles & Doubles: Runner Up

2.

CS D.Y. Patil

NMSA, Vashi, New Mumbai

U-12 Singles: Winner

3.

CS D.Y. Patil

Jolly Gym, Ghatkopar

U-12 Singles: Winner

40

TENNIS INDIA SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2012

41

TI: How were you first introduced to tennis, and who do you most credit for your present achievements?

Poojan: My father and my coaches.

TI: Where are you presently training? Who is your coach and what was his / her role till now in making you a promising player?

Poojan: At Practennis, under Mr. D.S. Rama Rao and Mr. S.V. Kiran Kumar.

TI: Who is your favorite tennis player and why?

Poojan: Mr. Roger Federer because of his overall game.

TI: What are your goals for the current 2012 season?

Poojan: Want to reach Boys U-14's top 15 in India.

TI: What can make tennis more popular to entice more kids to pursue it?

Poojan: Make tennis more fun, so that players feel fully satisfied while playing.

Poojan with coach D.S. Rama Rao

Meet the Coach-

D.S. Rama Rao, Practennis, Mumbai

Poojan Desai, Boys U-12 AITA RANKING (Under-12)

6

AITA RANKING (Under-14)

40

AGE

11

BIRTHPLACE

Mumbai

RESIDENCE

Mumbai

PLAYS

Right Handed

RACQUET

YONEX

FATHER

Vimal Desai

MOTHER

Ashite Desai

COACH

Mr. D.S.Rama Rao and Mr. S.V. Kiran Kumar

ACADEMY

Practennis

SCHOOL

S.V.D.D. School, Ghatkopar, Mumbai

STARTED PLAYING SINCE (AGE)

8

Mr. Dosa Shri Rama Rao coaches both of this issue's promising players with Mr. S.V. Kiran Kumar.

Dosa Sri Rama Rao is N.I.S, I.T.F LEVEL-1 & I.T.F LEVEL – II, and U.S.P.T.R qualified Tennis Coach at Practennis (School of Tennis), H.M.P School Campus, Munshi Nagar, Andheri (West), Mumbai.

Mr. Shri Rama Rao's influencial coaching has produced National and Davis Cup players, like Asif Ismail, Mark Ferera, Gaurav Natekar and Karan Rastogi, as well as Federation Cup players like Liza Pereira, Isha Lakhani. Additionally, his guidance has created many National champions like Rashmi Khanna, Arnav Jain and Rohan Gajjar, along with others. He worked in many prime tennis academies in the U.S. like Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy, Chris Evert Lloyd Coaching Centre and Rick Macci Tennis Academy. He worked as chief coach in M.S.L.T.A for nine years. After gaining a rich experience with M.S.L.T.A, Mr. Rama Rao started Practennis, H.M.P School grounds, Andheri (West), Mumbai in 1987. Practennis has 12 international standard synthetic tennis courts.

Team Practennis, Mumbai

Recent Performance S. No.

Name of The Tournament

Place & Date

Result

1.

SS Panchgani

Panchgani, June 2012

U-12 Singles & Doubles: Runner Up

2.

CS D.Y. Patil

NMSA, Vashi, New Mumbai

U-12 Singles: Winner

3.

CS D.Y. Patil

Jolly Gym, Ghatkopar

U-12 Singles: Winner

42

TENNIS INDIA SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2012

43

1. Avoid excess hydration.

Recommendation: Increase your fluid intake cautiously, not more than 830ml/hour (i.e. 28 ounces) and remember to increase your electrolytes intake by adding endurolytes powder/ endurolytes fizz tablets to your water/ fuel bottles.

2. Consume simple sugar.

How to Avoid the Top 10 Mistakes Commonly Made by Endurance Athletes R. Mythili. M.Sc., M.Phil., Nutritionist

The amount of strength and endurance you're capable of is directly related to your diet.

Like a smooth running vehicle, your body needs the right levels of food and drink to operate most efficiently.

Recommendation: To get the proper amount of easily digested calories, rely on fuels that only use complex c a r b o h y d r a t e s (maltodextrins / glucose polymers), with no added simple sugar as their carbohydrate source.

3. Monitor your amount of calories.

Recommendation: An intake of 240-280 calories per hour is sufficient for the average sized endurance athlete (approx- 72.575kg).

4. Make sure to consistently take your electrolyte supplementation.

Recommendation: Endurolytes, in capsule or powder form, is an inexpensive, easy-to-dose and easy- to-consume way to get your necessary electrolytes. Use endurolytes consistently during workouts and races to fulfill this crucial fueling need.

5. Avoid protein during prolonged exercise.

Recommendation: Consuming soy protein helps protect against excess muscle break down. Soy protein has been observed to produce a higher degree of uric acid content than whey proteins.

Excessive free radicals produced during exercise reduce uric acid. When uric acid levels are higher, the radical release due to antioxidants' influence of the isoflavones found exclusively in soy is less free.

6. Limit solid foods during exercise.

Recommendation: Eat solid foods sparingly and only as an exception or diversion. Maintain your primary intake through liquid sources in the form of fruit juices, milkshakes or sports drinks.

44

7. Do not try something new in the competition without testing it during training.

Recommendation: Try a variety of combinations in training and keep a log of what foods and fluids work best for you. If you expand your training log to also include fuel intake, you'll have the data you need to prepare a smart fuelling protocol for next event.

8. Let go of your game plan even when it is not working.

Recommendation: It's a good practice to have a game plan that includes a fuelling protocol that you have refined during training, but you need to be flexible. Evaluate and adjust according to the pace of each race and weather during that race.

Have a game plan, but write it in pencil, not permanently in ink.

9. M a k e s u r e y o u g e t adequate post work out nutrition.

Recommendation: Depending on a number of factors, particularly body size and intensity of the work out, consume foods that contribute 55-60% of their calories rom complex carbohydrates, 10-12% from protein, 25-30% from fat.

10. Get proper pre-workout fuelling.

Recommendation: Eat clean, which means no refined sugar, skip dessert or eat fruit, also consume low or no saturated fats and no alcohol. Eat until you are satisfied, but not more.

TENNIS INDIA SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2012

45

Short Listing

The Best Tennis Racquet For You

- MS Krishna Kumar

general reference point, racquets weights range from 8 to 14 ounces.

2) HH/HL: It states whether the racquet is Head heavy or Head Light. Most of the heavier racquets will be head light and lighter racquets will be head heavy.

3) Beam width: Beam width is the width of the beam of the racquet. The thinner the beam the faster it moves through the air.

4) Grip Size: Grip sizes range from 4-1/8 to4- 5/8 inches are commonly available. Most junior racquets are a grip size 4. Always remember that it is easy to build up a grip to a bigger size by adding layers of tape, but if you buy a bigger grip size grip you are left with no choice but to play with it , as it is impossible to reduce the size of racquet handle.

5) Composition: These are the materials used to manufacture the racquet .The properties of a racquet varies based on the materials used to make the racquet.

I believe the success of many tennis powers in the world is built on a strong foundation of knowledge and dedication to attain new heights and adapt to new changes. Tennis gear has transitioned from primitive wooden rackets to high-tech composite materials which are lighter, stronger and more effective, helping to deliver powerful shots.

46

First we have to understand most of the prints that we see on racquets, which will help in choosing the best racquet for you.

The Prints: 1) Weight: It is simply the total racquet weight. Sometimes, this weight will be the weight of the racquet unstrung i.e., without the strings. For a

6) Tension Range of Strings: The most important aspect of a racquet and how it performs depends on how loose or tight a racquet is strung. One thumb rule to remember is tighter the strings are, the slower the ball goes.

7) Head Size: This is the contact point when the racquet meets the balls. The bigger the head size, the more chances of you hitting the ball and bigger the sweet spot. For reference, racquet head sizes usually range from 85-110.

8) Mains and crosses: Mains and crosses denote the number of strings running parallel and horizontal to your racquet. Mains run from top to neck and crosses run side to side. The less the number of strings the more spin and power you get. If spacing between strings is more, it gets a better bite on the ball. The denser the string patterns the more control you get out of the racquet.

9) Racquet length: The more the length the more power you get, but control is compromised. In adult sizes, racquet lengths range from 2729.

10) Stiffness: This is the measure of stiffness of a racquet. The general thing to remember is that stiffer the frame the more power you get, but the bad news is, more shock is transferred to the elbow. So it is recommended to select a suitable racquet with appropriate frame stiffness.

The Short Listing Begins Now, with a fair idea about what those prints means, it is time to answer the main question, how will you select a racquet from the thousands of choices in the market?

Let's try to work out a short listing technique.

1. First we need to have a kitchen weighing scale and an old racquet, tennis or badminton. Since racquet weight usually range from 8 Oz to 14 Oz, try to tape an old racquet with lead tape

to increase weight one oz at a time. After each layer of tape, there will be a point when you will feel the weight is comfortable for you, note the weight at this point.

2. The next step is choosing from a HH or HL racquet.

Try adding weight onto the head of your old racquet and analyze how it feels.

Then add weight on the handle and analyze the feel.

3. The third factor is the size of the grip. Continue adding tape on the handle till you reach your comfort level. Once you reach that point, note down the size.

4. Next thing to consider is the string pattern. The closer the strings are the more control we get. So, if you already have a wide range of quality strokes and are capable of controlling the

ball fairly well, you can go for an open string pattern or else search for a closed pattern, one that gives more control. A racquet with 16 mains and 19 crosses is considered an open pattern and 18 mains and 20 crosses is a closed pattern racquet.

5. Once you short list two or three racquets of your choice at the shop, try to read all the prints on the frame and gather all necessary information important to you. I am sure the retailer will be available to answer your questions.

The single most important factor is the 'feel good' factor.

When you pick a racquet you should feel good- remember this as you start searching for the best racquet for you.

Reference: http://www.tenniswarehouse.com/

Twitter Tatter

- Haresh Ramchandani

Sania Mirza (23rd August)

Serena Williams (15th August)

Just back from watching 'Ek tha Tiger'..really good!Salman and Katrina as usual look fantastic.. Wonder if Salman will ever look his age?:)

My sister @Venuseswilliams just bought me the coolest neatest night light! My whole ceiling lights up in stars. I love it! Love you sis. :)

Andre Agassi (23rd August) Let's transform #Education together...join the movement so that all children have a shot at success!! #BELIEVE Rohan Bopanna (21st August) Thanks to Mr. Don Flow & the @ATPWorldTour fr organising the fabulous sports cars we drove on the race track today.BMW M6, Cadillac CTS,Etc. Mardy Fish (21st August) Katy Perry, your music speaks to me.. I mean, I love fireworks. I'm wide awake right now. I kissed a girl once. I had a blast last Friday night.... It all works! #amazing Vishnu Vardhan (21st August)

Rafael Nadal (15h August) I am very sad to announce that I am not ready to play the US Open in NY. Thanks to my fans for their support and specially, the new yorkers.

Fernando Verdasco (13th Aug) Good morning! Up today at 7.45, earliest time I woke in the whole summer! But now that I'm up... Let's practice Victoria Azarenka (13th August) I wanna go out with the Batman....

Yuki Bhambri (9th August) Wow ! It feels great to be inside top #200 current ranking #189 in singles and #196 in doubles......

Venus Williams (7th August)

Tough to wake up for an early morning flight. But not today, getting back home after 2 months, looking forward to make the most of it.

What can I say? I love the Olympics! Thank you @serenawilliams 4 making my dreams come true! This gold means even more than the others!

Novak Djokovic (20th August)

Andy Roddick (7th August)

Hello NY!Did you miss me?It's good to be back.

Finally my whole team is here. They say hi to you! http://say.ly/OOH40Xm

Lesson learned.... Dont leave your twitter account unattended when your friends are over

Mahesh Bhupathi (20th August)

singles and #196 in doubles......

Got on a plane to Mumbai from Washington and ended up in NYC. Well done # United Airlines.

No more business for you guys!!

Somdev Devvarman (29th July)

48

Somdev Devvarman (29th July)

Tough day at the office. Tough first day back.

Will be back in form in due time. Time to work, and time to play as many matches as possible

List of correct entries

LuckyDraw Contest

Jul-Aug Issue correct answer Players name in the photo: Roger Federer

Sl.No. 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

Name Nagesh Bharadwaj Rashmika Rajan Jugal Solanki Anubhav Saksena Soundarya Lahari Deeba Rizvi Paarth Bhanushali Rajagopal Kala

E-mail nbharadwaj@yahoo.com rashuthetennischamp@gmail.com jugalssolanki@rediffmail.com anubhavsaksena@gmail.com soundarya.lahari@gmail.com cool.dr23@gmail.com paarth@iname.com rajagopalkala98@gmail.com

Head Lucky Draw Contest Lucky Winner: Sl. No. 2 Winners Name: Rashmika Rajan Address: New 3rd main, Opp Noble Apts Basvanagar, Marathalli Post, Bangalore - 560037. Phone: 08025239778 (* Djokovic back pack shall be sent to the winner by Delux Sports, Offical Dealers of “HEAD”- India)

Head Lucky Draw Contest September-October Issue

Identify Players Name, country and Racquet Model and win “DJOKOVIC BACK PACK”. Send your entries to editor@tennisindiamagazine.com with your name, address and contact details.

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