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Journalism of Courage
One is on a high, the other is struggling to get back on course. One is from pedigreed tennis stock, the other has made his own name. One learnt the trade in the US, the other back home. As India prepares for the retirement of the long-serving Paes and Bhupathi, Karan Rastogi and Prakash Amritraj know the mantle will soon fall on their joint shoulders.
Wild cards for the Chennai Open, both agree that this could be the beginning of their developing into 8216;8216;dependable players8217;8217;.
There is one school of thought that believes he8217;s not yet Davis Cup material. Rastogi disagrees, saying that playing more senior events 8212; Challengers and Futures 8212; will make him a more complete player.
Prakash, three years older than Rastogi, is coming off an indifferent season, one interrupted by injuries 8212; a torn leg muscle and a shoulder problem. His priority is getting back to winning ways. Where once he was in the Top 200, he now languishes at 340. 8216;8216;It8217;s worrying8217;8217;, he says with a smile, and puts it down to 8216;8216;getting used to the rigours.8217;8217;
Like Rastogi, he8217;s aware of the responsibility heading his way and says he8217;s ready for it. 8216;8216;Being considered India8217;s future is an honour. And I sure know how to respond to that faith.8217;8217;
The two have never played each other but are keenly aware of the track record. Rastogi, for one, candidly says Prakash is a much better player. 8216;8216;Experience counts. He8217;s got the returns and power in them which one can only develop playing against higher-ranked players. I am just about to make the leap into the big league.8217;8217;
Prakash feels Karan has athleticism and age on his side, factors that can make him bigger and better. 8216;8216;I8217;ve practiced with him a couple of times, and Karan is good 8212; he8217;s got the shots and the fire.8217;8217;
Of the two, only Rastogi has played at this event before, last year. He lost in the first round to Julian Knowles Australia in straight sets but excuses himself by saying, 8216;8216;I was a junior then. Things have changed and this year at least I have the experience.8217;8217;
There was bad news for him, though: His first-round match is against No. 4 seed Jonas Bjorkman Sweden. 8216;8216;What do I say8217;8217;, he mused, half-smilingly, 8216;8216;the only thing to do is go out and enjoy the game. And learn as much as possible, because I8217;ll won8217;t get this opportunity too often.8217;8217;
Prakash, who faces Switzeralnd8217;s Ivo Heuberger, was unruffled. 8216;8216;That8217;s ok. Playing players in the top 150 is good. Upsets can help you take a huge leap in the rankings.8217;8217;
Amritraj family escaped tsunami
Playing high-stakes tennis will no longer be as nerve-wracking for Prakash Amritraj 8212; he had a narrow escape from the tsunami last Sunday and still shivers when talking about it.
Every time they visit India, the Amritraj family visit the Velankanni temple on the coast. This time, too, they planned the trip and set off 8212; Vijay, his wife Shyamala, Prakash, his brother Vikram and cousin Stephen 8212; on Sunday morning.
8216;8216;For some reason, we left at 11 a.m instead of the usual 6 a.m early start8217;8217;, Prakash told The Sunday Express today. 8216;8216;Then my grandparents, who were watching TV, called us while we were still on the road and told us about the tsunami. We immediately turned back.8217;8217;
The disaster is never far from the ATP event. The players8217; fund-raising effort was boosted when ATP Players8217; Council President Rainer Schuettler 8212; the No 3 seed 8212; joined the cause. Schuettler is the third player after Mahesh Bhupathi and Jonas Bjorkman, who decided to contribute all their winnings, to lend support. 8212; MICKY AIGNER
