Fighting with injuries, Srinath looks to a new morrow

Srinath opted to come to Pune to gain some practise ahead of the forthcoming Indian ITF Satellite Circuit’s first leg which is commencing in Mumbai on October 18. He hopes to tune up for the event by trading volleys with Davis Cupper Sandeep Kirtane and coach Hemant Bendrey at PYC and Deccan Gymkhana.

Speaking to The Indian Express, the 26-year-old Mysoreite, employed with the Indian Oil Corporation as assistant sales manager, talked about his new sponsors, discussed his future plans and also expressed his frustration over the number of times injuries and illness which let him down.

Excerpts from the interview:
Q: How has this year been for you?
PS: Very frustrating. Last year I had played almost 22 weeks in US and European circuits. But this year, until now, I could play only 15 week abroad. The year has been marred by injuries and illness. Sometime back it was a stomach virus which forced me to rest for almost one month and recently it was tendentious in my right foot which sidelined me for almost four weeks that caused me to miss the US Challenger. In fact, I am here because of these injuries otherwise I would have been playing bigger tournaments by now.

Q: Why have you sustained so many injuries. Are you stretching yourself too much?
PS: I don’t know. Maybe I am, or it could be something else. But injuries are part and parcel of sports.

Q: How is competition abroad?
PS: It’s very, very, very tough. The minimum cut-off point there is 200. Even the qualifying rounds are very tough.

Q: So what are we in India lacking?
PS: It is said that tennis is a rich man’s game. True, because only those having money at their disposal can play more and more circuits abroad and can employ the best of coaches. It’s a game where the more you play at a higher level, the more you learn and improve. But here we don’t have a proper infrastructure. There is no proper system or support nor any good coaches and trainers. So with this background, how will we produce good players? Being in India one can only aim at playing in Futures and Satellites. We play each other for years and do not reach anywhere. The overall system has to be changed.

Q: What are the areas you want to improve upon?
PS: I am working on all aspects right now with more stress being on my net and serve game. Basically what I want to be is physically strong and healthy. I cannot afford to fall ill time and again. So for the past couple of months the emphasis is on staying fit.

Q: Who are you currently been coached by?
PS: I don’t have a permanent coach right now whom I would love to have travelling with me. But I cannot afford it. Presently, it’s John Collis and Arun Jaithly, both from the US. They travel with me whenever possible.

Q: Your aim?
PS: Get down to around 200 points in the ATP ranking by June next year. This will help me get direct entry into the main draw in many of the tournament in US and Europe. I will be playing this Satellite followed by the Indian Challenge and will fly back to the US to play some indoor tournaments. The conditions for tennis are perfect in the US and Europe and the matches there are good. My attempt will be to play in bigger tournaments.

Q: We have heard you have roped in some more sponsors. Is this true?
PS: Yeah! It’s the Sure Corporation based in Canada. It was somewhere during the Canadian Open when my friend from Mysore, Mohit Vijay Kumar, now settled in Canada, who helped me get this deal.

Q: How do you plan to go about this Satellite tournament?
PS: Just play matches and get maximum points.