As significant as hard work and talent for a player’s evolution is a right break at the right time. Coimbatore-based tennis player N Sriram Balaji is afforded with one such opportunity to prove his mettle at a higher level, one that he fully hopes to optimize.
Striding to breach into the Davis Cup team, the selection for the New Zealand trip wasn’t a surprise. “I was expecting (the call-up) as I was playing well and had reached the final of a tournament here. I would take this as a reward to my hard work and persistence. I had put in a lot of effort in the last few years and I’m happy that it has paid off. I need to make the best of this opportunity. It was a dream to represent to my country in the Davis Cup. I thank the AITA for their faith in me,” he said.
A product of the Tamil Nadu Tennis Association’s visionary programme, he was bestowed the opportunity to fine-tune his skills at the Sanchez Casal Academy in Barcelona, the IMG Bolliettieri Academy in the US and now at a Schuttler-Waske Tennis University in Frankfurt, his current base.
Gaining exposure from such trips, Balaji’s game has gradually evolved. “Every day I learn something new and is trying to iron out my flaws. Of the three places I like Germany the most for the training is more individualized. Only two people train in a court and entire set-up is truly professional. They give much importance to even the minutest detail,” he said.
The 22-year-old is a feisty serve-and-volley player, unabashed to venture forth the baseline. Further proof of his talent manifested when he came in as the fifth seed and overthrew Joss Espasandin of Switzerland in the final to claim his maiden ITF title —MCC-S. R. Subramaniam Memorial—in May. “It was an important win as it eased by mental block. It was a timely confidence booster. Moreover, the circuit back home is competitive. So it gave me a lot of satisfaction,” he said.
His ambitions don’t stop here. While his imminent target is to improve his ranking from the backwatery 390, he hopes to breach into the top 100 in due course. “That would take a lot more hard work and commitment. But I’m ready for the grind,” said Balaji, who idolizes Roger Federer.