I seem to be always depressed when I read about Indian tennis....

I distinctly remember the day when Mahesh Bhupathi won his first Grand Slam title at French Open with his dimunitive partner Rika Hiraki. I dont think many expected this unlikely pair to go all the way in that tournament. Mahesh had to chase quite a few lobs over Rika's head in that Grand Slam:) But that was a monumental event in Mahesh Bhupathi's career. It paved way for his numerous grand slam titles including a career grand slam in mixed doubles. It really saddens me that a player of such repute and such accomplishments should be unceremoniously let down by a country for whom he has served for so many years. The main issue here is that while the Olympic debacle went on, there was no attempt made by AITA, to stop individual press statements made by players and bring them to table to talk. Moreover,strict rules should have been in place about players talking to the press with regard to tournaments like Davis Cup,Asian Games,Olympics and Fed Cup. The more these guys dug their own holes,someone was smiling in the deep corridors of the AITA. After all the damage was done and India's players came back empty handed at Olympics, this was the perfect time to let go of one of India's legends. The"other" legend was excused from Davis Cup citing emotional distress, even though he was in US playing club tennis. If that isnt partiality, I am not sure what is.... Mahesh had treaded on AITA's toes long back when he made a bid to take over the AITA. The unease between the AITA and him have continued over the years. Talks of omitting kids from Bhupathi's Academy in Blore over local kids for international events may have not been just a rumor. Mahesh's recent announcement about partnering Daniel Nestor in 2013 comes as a good news to those, like me, are only interested in the Indian cause. Mahesh is not retiring, but, when he does, I want to recall his best Davis Cup ties, his medals and his Grand Slam titles. Not this tainted picture....He surely deserves more than this!!

Amazing Grace-Kim

Being a mom changes everything in so many ways. All the things that seemed most important in life, become trivial when a child comes into the scene. Kim Clijsters was frequently torn between guilt of not spending too much time with her daughter and her own drive to win grand slam titles. Winning Grand Slams titles being a mom is phenomenal and Kim Clisters's second run after retirement was even better. She won 2 back to back titles at the US Open and won an Australian Open in 2011. Playing Olympics for Belgium was just as special for her. From 1999 when she began her career playing doubles with an obscure Indian player to finishing up her career in 2012 Olympics with Bob Bryan, Kim Clijsters has shown amazing class and poise. And its not just her backhand or the splits that will be missed. As she says good bye to the tennis world, Kim Clijsters leaves a void that cannot be filled in the Women's tour. For one, she is a people's champion. She won hearts of everyone around her including her rivals and compatriots alike with her modesty and humility. She said in an interview with tennis channel "All humans are equal and just because I win so many titles doesn't change that". Such honest words show the depth of her personality. The only other champion on the Women's tour who touched the hearts of many by her humility was Aranxta Sanchez Vicario. Kim Clijsters can breathe easy now and relish the thought of spending her quality time with family. While the world bids adieu to a genuine person and a champion, Kim Clijsters can be assured of millions of warm heartfelt vibes sent her way in this new chapter of her life.......

It's a tough field

Its obviously disappointing to anyone who is passionate about Indian tennis to see our guys and gals come back empty handed. I can feel the pain and disappointment that the players themselves will be feeling.When there's more than a billion rooting for you, its hard when you dont deliver. But none of our players need to take it so hard. For, there is, one MAIN factor that's not that apparent. The top singles players are in the fray to win a doubles medal!! None of these players bother to compete on the doubles tour on a regular basis.While we have the best doubles specialists, our players are no match for the fit, young and powerful singles players who are raring to win a medal in doubles or mixed doubles. In Beijing too, it was Federer-Wawrinka who beat Bhupathi-Paes and then proceeded to win the gold. This uprising of singles players only happens at every Olympics and every round is a steep hurdle. The match-ups are not even balanced. Expectations of medals from tennis was a tough ask all along. What we can take from this- For the first time, India had representation in every event except women's singles. Vishnu Vardhan and Somdev Devvarman got to compete in men's singles. That is commendable. The only factor in this whole scenario is that there could have been a bit less drama before the Olympics. But if we ever want to do better in the next Olympics, then we have to start preparing for RIO NOW.

Prize money wars...

Gilles Simon might have been just a toddler when divas like Sabatini, Steffi Graf, Monica Seles and Capriati held the crowds in rapture. Martina Navratilova's popularity in her prime was commendable. Throngs of people came just to watch Chris Evert,Billie Jean King and many others. Serena and Venus Williams, Maria Sharapova, Martina Hingis, Anna Kournikova attracted thousands more than Gilles Simone can ever hope for. At the Commonwealth Games 2010 when I played for India, the only major attraction was Sania Mirza. No male player there had her star power.If prize money was driven by a phase where there were "interesting" players, then I can name times when men should have gotten lesser prize money than women!!! So, at a time when women top the popularity charts, which has happened in the past and one which will surely happen again, do they just have to demand more prize money? Will that put an end to these baseless wars? There is no doubt that men's tennis is at its golden phase. Tennis has become so exciting with three top male players giving each other a run for their money. But then again, this is a phase....And prize money cannot be based on a golden era or a phase. And then the talk about 5 setters versus 3 setters. Physiologically, women are bulit different. Can a female boxer beat her male counterpart? No.Is the fastest woman faster than the fastest man? For sure not. Can a female tennis player play 5 sets?It has been done before, but it is not correct to compare them both.

Male Chauvinism etc....

More than 15 years ago, I walked into the office of an AITA official. I was just back from one of our Fed Cup events where I was instrumental in steering India into Group 1 of Fed Cup Asia Oceania. I wanted to ask him for sponsorship as I had been no.1 in India for sometime then, but was struggling to make ends meet on the WTA tour. As there had been no women tennis professionals before me, I had no one to turn for advice in terms of travel or entry procedures or finding doubles partners. Everything was brand new. When I asked the official to help me with sponsorships, he never actually responded to that question. Instead he said “ Beti, you are like my granddaughter, I think you should think about getting married and settle down”. I was stunned. I didn’t know what to say, I decided I would never ask the AITA for sponsorships again. I also didn’t heed his advice, Thank God. Otherwise, I would have never been able to set the record for the 1st Indian female to win a round at a Grand Slam or play Olympics for India or have the most appearances for India at Fed Cup. Male chauvinism was something I lived with, it was part of our culture. There was an underlying sneer and nonchalance about Women and sports in India. If an AITA official himself had no hopes for me, you can only imagine the rest. While my immediate family and friends in the town of Coimbatore were quite supportive of my endeavor, there were a few who knew how to put a dampener on things. They would try to advice my dad into saying” She is somebody else’s “property”. Why are you spending so much money on her”? We lived with this sort of thing every day . But this was more than 15 years ago. Years before Sania Mirza came onto the scene. But this is now, Sania Mirza is made to face the brunt of male chauvinism when she was literally made a pawn to appease Leander Peas. Sania's statement after her wild card was announced could not have been more emphatic. No player of India should have been used as a pawn in egotistical dramas. She is, after all, the undisputed queen of Indian tennis and the ONLY player male or female who can actually fill a 5000 capacity stadium in India. Her diplomacy and single minded intent of putting India first are traits that our men may have forgotten. The timing of this statement was impeccable and so was the content. The outrage that I felt for her, was duly brought in her statement when she wrote "As an Indian woman belonging to the 21st century, what I find disillusioning is the humiliating manner in which I was put up as a bait to try and pacify one of the disgruntled stalwarts of Indian tennis". I can only sympathize with her and hope she can put all this behind her when she starts her campaign in London. Knowing the woman she is, these things are bound to make her stronger mentally as she has a way of coming through against all odds.

Olympics....

Sania's statement after her wild card was announced could not have been more emphatic. No player of India should have been used as a pawn in egotistical dramas. She is,after all,the undisputed queen of Indian tennis and the ONLY player male or female who can actually fill a 5000 capacity stadium in India. The male players can also learn a thing or two from her. Her diplomacy and single minded intent of putting india first are traits that our men may have forgotton . The timing of this statement was impeccable and so was the content. The outrage that i felt for her,was duly brought in her statement when she wrote "As an Indian woman belonging to the 21st century, what I find disillusioning is the humiliating manner in which I was put up as a bait to try and pacify one of the disgruntled stalwarts of Indian tennis". A few months ago, Sania did call me from Indian Wells with the most bizarre question "Are you sitting down?Do you want to play Olympics with me"? I was stunned for sure. But my first response to her was " Why not Rushmi? What about other girls"? ( At that time, her ranking was 8 or 9)All she said was that since she was top 10, she could pick her own partner. While playing for India, was the biggest honor, I was very reluctant to go through the whole deal again.I hadnt played any tournaments and to get into that TORNADO wasnt something that made me jump for joy!!!.Its like the Devil or the Deep Blue Sea when you have to travel with a young child. Leaving them is just as hard as taking them with you for tournaments. To put my family through that again isnt an easy choice. And after all this,being used like a "curry leaf" is something you need to get used to when you play for India. Sania spoke to AITA as well and since I had no ranking, I wished her the best in finding her the best partner possible. Rushmi surely deserves this wild card for all her hard work and perseverance through the years. She has set such a good example for the juniors! But then, where is the generation next???? AITA, are u listening?

Sad, but true...

Indian tennis at the Olympics- I am appalled at the way random people are questioning the patriotism of Bhupathi,Paes and Bopanna. These guys have "served" for India for decades together and they don't need to answer these questions. Their numerous Davis Cups,Asian games and Olympics speak for themselves.. Its BECAUSE of their patriotism that they are trying to find the best team to get India a medal. According to the rankings, Rohan Bopanna is ranked above Mahesh Bhupathi.If they were going to send just one team, the most logical pairing for India to win a medal would have been a Bopanna and Paes partnership. Where on earth did they come up with a Paes-Bhupathi partnership out of the blue???I would have loved to be a fly on a wall at that WONDERFUL selection meeting:) Then comes the question, why only one team? That's because AITA has always favored Leander Paes. This is their way of ensuring Bopanna-Bhupathi pair will be cut off. Paes is surely getting the tough end of the bargain, now that Bopanna and Bhupathi have refused to play with him. But on the other hand,nobody can be forced to play with each other- this is the 21st century ,right? A Sania-Bhupathi pairing for mixed doubles should not be meddled with at any cost. This is what is logical. But let's hope they stick to logic when that decision is due. In hindsight-The AITA is responsible for grooming the next rung to compete with these guys.They should have set up a training camp to see who can be next best to support these 3 at least a year ago. This scenario could have been easily avoided had someone with a tennis background been in charge of things. AITA should have brought in Davis Cup captain SP Mishra or someone of that stature to mediate. This kind of soap opera could be been avoided if only AITA had been impartial. Sad, but true......