CHENNAI: Former Indian tennis legend Ramanathan Krishnan is pleased with the way the Chennai Open has grown in stature over the years. He believes that the sevenday event at the SDAT Tennis Stadium was a festival of tennis and one that reminded him of the old days at Egmore (MRC Stadium) where he has played a lot of tennis.
He is happy that India and Chennai in particular had the privilege to watch the best players in the world. At the same time he is disappointed that the top draw over all there years has not inspired Indians to move up the ladder.
He says chess had a boom in the country after Viswanathan Anand’s exploits, and in cricket too you have youngsters from various part of the country making a mark. But in tennis no one has been able to emulate Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi.
Bane of wild cards
He argues that one of the main reasons for India’s failure to capitalise on a tournament like the Chennai Open is the bane of wild cards. “Suppose Ramesh Krishnan was playing as a youngster, I will ask him (Ramesh) to qualify rather than have liberties. You see in a wild card you play `one’ match, the crowd claps and immediately you are out. What about the experience. You must play more and more matches. The best way is to earn you place by fighting in the qualifying rounds and not through the backdoor,” opined Krishnan. “If the Association wants to do something good for Indian tennis they should stop giving wild card for Indians. For 12 years they have been giving wild cards for Indians and there has been no benefit. The best way is to go through the grind in the qualifying and come out. When you get to play three tough matches and then move to the next stage, your game will improve and importantly you can learn,’’ added Krishnan.
“By giving wild card to Indian players you are not doing any service but only harming them.
There is no short cut to success, you have to work hard and earn every victory,’’ opined Krishnan.
The absence of Nadal and Bryan brothers has robbed the tournament of some of its sheen but Krishnan argues that the tournament is still a top draw. “They have two players who have been in the top 10, Nikolay Davydenko and Carlos Moya and others are there.
You cannot write off anybody since it is the first tournament of the season. Anything can happen.
But as far as India’s chances (singles) are concerned it will be tough,’’ said Krishnan.
On Paes and Bhupathi participation: “There is nothing like Paes and Bhupathi playing together. As a pair they were brilliant. They were a big draw together. But with different partners they may not bring in enthusiasts like the yore.
Nevertheless both are playing good tennis,” said the maestro on India’s finest pair.
Krishnan regarded 2008 as a golden year in Indian sport. “2008 was a golden year for Indian sport.
We had success in cricket, chess (Anand’s world crown), shooting (Bindra’s first individual gold medal at Olympics), boxing and wrestling too at the Olympics.
What moves me is the fact that the sports has spread to ever nook and corner of the country from the cities. I foresee a bright future for Indian sports,’’ opined Krishnan.