Leander, Mahesh could spawn a generation of top players

Q: the rift between Leander and Mahesh is a cause for concern?

A: Not really. You know, both are committed players. They are committed to Davis Cup which brings out the best in them. My job here would be to impress upon them that they have plenty to draw upon being one of the best doubles team in the World.

Q: It has been quite some time now since Leander and Mahesh have played together. Do you think this, in any way, will affect their performance in the doubles?

A: Not at all. Firstly, both are true professionals. As I said, they are players with commitment. The two coming together after a long time means there is something fresh about the combination. This could work to our advantage.

Q: What about the third slot?

A: We are in the process of short-listing players for that. The first name that crops up is Prahlad Srinath. We have to take into account his experience on clay courts. Besides, there is the Satellite tournament coming up which will definitely throw up sumptuous options for the third and fourth player in the team.

Q: After Leander and Mahesh, Indian tennis’ conveyor belt, somehow, seems to have struck work. Do you feel there has been a decline in standards?

A: I won’t subscribe to this view. In the first place it is just not right to compare the past with the present. Tennis these days is a lot more competitive. Times have changed. And instead of saying that standards have dropped, I would prefer to state that we haven’t adapted well enough to the changes. Tennis has undergone a sea change. From being a seasonal game to a sport played all-round the year, from amateurism to professionalism.

In the past the tennis season was from October to March with a solid circuit. Now the game world over is played all round the year with a lot of indoor tournaments. Consequently, top Indian players drifted away to circuits abroad, whereby the rest of the Indian players never really got to play against them. Why, most couldn’t even see them in action in India. Well, most of the Indians saw Leander Paes on TV first before seeing him play on our shores.

This has been the problem with Indian tennis. So, not adapting to changes does not mean decline in standards.

Q: Then how is it that we have stopped producing world-class players?

A: The problem in the recent past has been that we had no tournaments to support players in the middle level. Players in the age group of 20-22, who were expected to make a push in their careers, were without any exposure. But things have changed in the last one year. We see quite a lot of tournaments being played now and with it a lot of bright prospects.

Q: What is the contribution of Krishnan Tennis Academy to Indian tennis?

A: Krishnan Tennis Academy is doing pretty good. We have quite a few promising boys in the academy. But remember, we can only push them up to a certain level. After initial coaching, the player essentially need to toughen up, playing a lot of tournaments. And I think in India we have the environment and the facilities to toughen up the boys.

Q: Finally, what do you foresee for Indian tennis?

A: The future is bright. I am quite hopeful. And then, I expect Leander and Mahesh to get back together. The two together could spawn a generation of top-drawer players in India.