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Tennis

The same season he debuted at Wimbledon, Prakash Amritraj lost his place in the Davis Cup squad. Excerpts from an exclusive interview with Mobile ESPN.

By Bhagya Ayyavoo

Bhagya Ayyavoo: How different has the 2009 season been compared to where you were at this point last year?

Prakash Amritraj: As far as ranking is concerned, I reached my highest singles ranking (154 on June 15, 2009) and doubles ranking (119 on Oct 26, 2009). But, this year was more of a great learning experience for me. I always feel that right before you're able to make the big jump, you have to take two steps back before you can take five steps forward. I am looking at this year as one such. So, 2009 was a good stepping stone. I wasn't that confident coming into 2009. In 2008, I had one very good result. I made the final of the ATP event in Newport. But, that was the only thing that I had to show for myself the whole year. This year, on the other hand, my results were much more balanced. It was unusually up and down in the Challengers. Next year, I'm really going to focus on the bigger events. And hope to duplicate few more events like I did in Newport.

BA: Any particular match that was an enriching experience to you this season, a match that stood out?

PA: Looking back, the two matches at Wimbledon (with Aisam Qureshi) were quite special because, they were five-setters. The only other five-setter that I played was against Go Soeda (in 2008) in Davis Cup. I won that one. These two (doubles wins) were a bit of a surprise. We were down and to comeback and win, especially against the 16th seeds Stephen Huss and Ross Hutchins (in Round One) was great. Huss won Wimbledon a few years ago. That was quite a special match. As far as performance, my best tennis match came at the Challenger event in Greece. I played Dudi Sela who was in the Top 50 at that time. He was the No.1 seed there. Beating him was my best effort this year.

BA: With all the success surrounding the Indian Davis Cup team, did you miss being part of that triumph?

PA: Obviously, Davis Cup has really been my biggest passion since I started playing on the tour. Since I was very young, that was all I wanted to play for. But, sometimes these things happen. I think the biggest thing one can do here is, to absorb everything and stay positive in the face of adversity. I'm going to keep working hard and hope for the best.

BA: What's your immediate schedule for 2010?

PA: I will start the season in Chennai, most likely. And then I will go to Australia for the qualifying. From there, I'll probably go to Johannesburg for the ATP event and try to play a few more bigger events at the beginning of the year.

BA: Do you fancy a wildcard at the Aircel Chennai Open this time?

PA: I don't know. It's hard to say. Every year, in the last few editions I've gotten one. I didn't know about it, up until the last minute. I was prepared to play the qualifying, each year. By chance I got the wildcard in the last few years. I never assumed it, never expected it. This year, like all the other years, I'll come prepared to play the qualifying, whatever that is, will happen.

BA: Indian tennis is growing from strength to strength and looks very competitive at this time. How do you see the future?

PA: It is fantastic. The biggest thing is, once you see one player come up, it spurs on another player. And then all of a sudden we have a few guys. Once there are few guys out there, it's so much easier to start that snowball effect and get quite a few players going. We're in a really exciting phase right now. The next 10-20 years are really going to be good for Indian tennis.

BA: Where would you like to be this time, next year? Have you set yourself any goals for 2010?

PA: I set it in the last couple of years, but may be I didn't quite understand what I needed to do to get there. I am going to stick to the same plan and I really feel I have the knowledge and experience now to push myself into the Top 100. That is my goal for next year. I'm going to try and play as many big events as I can. And keep that as my focus.

BA: Yes, staying healthy is the key to better performances. How did your body hold up this year?

PA: Funny you asked that. I was planning on training hard for about three weeks leading into the next season. Fitness is an important thing when I'm playing my best tennis. So, I decided to put in extra 10 days. Fitness will be key to my game.

BA: As a player, what motivates you?

PA: There're two things that really turn me on. Number one is when I wake up in the morning, I have this deep deep sense to better myself in whatever I am doing. I think that feeling is what really motivates. The other one - the biggest gift that I got it mostly from my father - was the gift of inspiration. To inspire someone else I think is the greatest thing in the world. So, if I can boost one other kid out there, I would have done something special!