Mentally strong,but experts feel the 17-year-old should be given more time to realise his potential on the ATP circuit The big stars at the Chennai Open,the ones with slightly more recognisable names for the average fan,are accustomed to playing under the bright show court lights,with plenty of applause. Names like Stanislas Wawrinka and Robin Soderling are regularly featured on tennis news in high-profile tournaments around the world,but a few of the lesser-known players hurrying from the locker room to the obscurity of outside courts here were once headed in the same direction. Robby Ginepri,now ranked 100 in the world,is a former US Open junior runner-up,while quarter-finalist Thiemo de Bakker of the Netherlands,a recent top-100 entrant at No. 96,won the junior Wimbledon in 2006. Another Dutchman,Robin Haase,was once ranked as high as No. 3 on the junior circuit,but is now struggling on the senior circuit at No. 447. Indias Yuki Bhambri,preparing hard for the tough grind of the ATP tour,has a junior Slam win as well as five ITF mens circuit titles at age 17,but theres still a lot of work ahead if he has to ensure he stays away from the quagmire that seems to have enveloped so many formerly bright prospects in the game. The winning attitude Doctor Vece Paes feels what sets Bhambri apart is his attitude and the mental capacity to handle tough situations. He shouldnt be rushed to the next level. Looking at him,you can see hes growing,and he still has a long way to go. For that kind of maturity to fully develop,he has to be patient,and I think by the time hes 23,he will have the capability to have a successful run on the ATP circuit, says Paes. If he stays calm,and doesnt get frustrated with the wait,then he has the potential to be top 100 for sure. Working at Nick Bolletieris has helped him,and though they say right now that he needs to develop a weapon,handling all those balls thrown at you at Bolletieris and practising with quality players will help him do just that. In my opinion,he is more tactically astute than even Leander was when he was a junior, he adds. Focus on ATP tour Bhambri played in the qualifying rounds of the Chennai Open,and will be playing the qualifiers at the Australian Open as well. He has said his focus is now on the ATP tour rather than the junior circuit. He has a good head,he doesnt let dicey situations affect him. Even when he was playing doubles with Moya here,you didnt feel he was just a kid and his partner was much senior. All those juniors who havent made progress once they graduate to the next level,there was a reason,either related to their game or in the mind. Leander didnt make it in the singles because he had a terrible backhand,a few of our other juniors havent had the fitness or the mental toughness. Yuki,so far,has shown his mind is excellent,and with continued work in the US,he will keep improving. Serbias Janko Tipsarevic,former Australian Open junior champ and No. 2 in the junior rankings,says senior success depends on the individual. It wasnt easy,I had to work a lot to reach where I am. It took me a long time to get used to playing on the mens tour. You have to keep at it,and the success rate varies, said Tipsarevic,now 38th in the world.
