Tour debutant Ramkumar shocks Devvarman

“Numbers don’t really matter,” said Yuki Bhambri after beating World No.64 Pablo Carreno Busta. “And I proved that today.” If the 21-year-old had had any inkling of what was to follow on Centre Court, he might have revised his statement to “like Ramkumar showed today.”

Bhambri could have been forgiven for thinking the day was his for he had just beaten a player ranked a hundred places above him. But the 19-year-old R. Ramkumar re-wrote the script by causing the biggest upset of the Aircel Chennai Open so far.

Somdev Devvarman, World No.90 and India’s top-ranked player, was beaten 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the first round by the qualifier, ranked more than 400 places below him.

The match was supposed to be a mere formality. Ramkumar, after a remarkable qualifying campaign, had rightly basked in all glory. This was his opportunity to savour the limelight on the flood-lit centre court and, in the process, pick up some valuable lessons playing India’s best player.

But what happened was just unthinkable.

For one set, the 19-year-old was neck-to-neck with Devvarman. It was supposed to end there. Instead it stretched to the third set. In a daring display the youngster started serving-and-volleying. It worked on and off. But the attempt said something about his confidence.

“It feels great. I was so nervous,” said Ramkumar. “Somdev is a great player. But I wanted to play my best. I knew I had a chance when the match came to the third set. He made me work for every ball. It would have been difficult had it stretched any longer. But it was good to win today.”

Both the crowd and Ramkumar seemed to feed off each other. Every time he asked the crowd to roar, the cheer just got louder and louder.

“I didn’t use the crowd well,” said Devvarman. “But whether the crowd is there or not (with him) it’s very disappointing to play like this after a good off season. But the last time I lost to a qualifier here, I ended up having my best ever season. So I need to find the silver lining.”

“I should probably get an F (grade) for this.”

Earlier in the day, Bhambri, the World No.196, survived an initial barrage of winners from Busta, to win in straight sets. Significantly more powerful than the 21-year-old Indian, Busta was clearly the enforcer early on.

“It was important to stick with him initially,” said Bhambri. “I was nervous in the beginning. I didn’t know him much. It was important not to make a lot of unforced errors. As the match went I got more confident.”

Bhambri compensated for his lack of power through guile.

After landing his shots mid-court — and the ball sitting up to give the World No.64 the easy put-away — till midway through the first set, Bhambri started hitting deep and hurrying the Spaniard. After pegging him back, Bhambri used the short-angle groundstrokes to set up points.

Busta visibly tightened in the second set. His shots that had initially rocketed across the court, now started either go wide or long, or sit up.

Even the forehands — a couple of which had seemed murderous before — dropped in pace alarmingly. Those shots that were hit in desperation by Busta were neatly re-directed. He clinched the set 6-3 to wrap up the match.

The day also saw the ouster of the first seeded player in this year’s edition. Eighth seed Roberto Bautista Agut, the runner up last year, went down 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 to qualifier Alexander Kudryavtsev.

In doubles, top seeds Rohan Bopanna and Aisam ul-Haq Qureshi dumped defending champions Stanislas Wawrinka and Benoit Paire 6-4, 4-6, 11-9.

http://www.thehindu.com/sport/tennis/article5523803.ece

Chennai Open: Jeevan not much of a match for Vesely

The Chennai Open, as many past and present players say, is more of an education to young Indian players hoping to make a mark. A sizeable crowd, with lots of expectant faces and a top-100 player across the net, these can either bog one down or egg one on. 

On Monday, when Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan, India’s third best singles player and ranked 314 in the world, crashed out to Czech Republic’s Jiri Vesely (No. 85) 5-7, 2-6, he discovered a part of the education but admirably, was not a bit intimidated.

“I played a good first set,” said Jeevan after the match. “My aim was not to give too many free points. It was a good experience, lots of positives to take home. The atmosphere, the crowd, it sort of soothed my nerves.”

It was a match of firsts for both players – Jeevan playing his first tour match and Vesely looking for his first victory. The latter started the match tentatively. He trailied 1-4 at one stage but quickly found his rhythm. Jeevan’s reluctance to trust his backhand meant that he had to run-around the ball to convert routine backhands to forehands. The time that it gave his opponent to get into position and Jeevan’s lack of firepower handed Vesely the crucial advantage.

“At the start I wanted to play to my strengths,” said Jeevan. “I wanted to play a lot of my favourite shots. I do think I have a good run-around forehand. But I can’t keep carrying on with it forever. The day I start using the two-handed backhand more often, that will be the first tactical switch towards getting better.”

To be fair, Jeevan kept with Vesely in the initial parts of the second set too until Vesely broke to 3-2. An otherwise powerful server, the 20-year-old started missing a string of first serves. But crucially, as before, it was not for long. Down a break point at 3-2, two excellent first serves restored his confidence. Jeevan’s inability to sustain the pressure for long and Vesely’s ability to win back the initiative in quick time ultimately proved to be the difference.

Vesely is a natural mover on clay, as his record suggests – five challenger finals on the surface. He would have no doubt been encouraged by his first tour victory on a hard court, albeit a slow one. It does seem pretty impressive for someone who started the year on the Futures circuit and by his own admission hoped to do well in the Challenger Tour come the year end.

http://www.thehindu.com/sport/tennis/chennai-open-jeevan-not-much-of-a-match-for-vesely/article5519906.ece

Transformed Wawrinka is the favourite

CHENNAI: For a few years now, there has been some debate on when exactly the tennis season ends. Officially it’s the ‘season-ending’ ATP World Tour Finals that draws the curtains. But increasingly there are signs that the period post the U.S. Open doesn’t necessarily bring a sense of closure but instead acts as harbinger and a precursor for things to come.

How else would one explain the glorious late-run that Novak Djokovic had in 2010 and then thoroughly dominated 2011? Roger Federer’s second-coming which started in late 2011 and ended with a title triumph at Wimbledon 2012? Or Andy Murray, with help from Ivan Lendl, fixing his game with a mechanic’s zeal towards the closing stages of 2012 and unburdening himself and his country of the weight of history in 2013?

This year has also been no different. Djokovic has had a splendid three months since New York, and is already touted to have had the head-start going into 2014. But it’s the story of a man from outside the big four which takes the cake – the transformation of Stanislas Wawrinka from ‘Stan the nearly Man’ to ‘Stan the Man’. In September his coach Magnus Norman was still talking about ‘insecurities’ and ‘lack of belief’, but at the season ending finale he seemed to have banished them all reaching the semifinal in his first ever attempt.

It is in this backdrop that the Chennai Open begins for the 18th time on Monday, officially marking the start of the season, with Wawrinka, the top seed, an obvious choice for the favourite’s tag. 

But over the years, favourites have found it tough here. With the cut-off for the direct entries at its lowest this time, the field seems more even than ever before. Add to it the fact that most players arrive cold, except for Wawrinka who played at the Abu Dhabi invitation. The setting just seems ripe for upsets.

Wawrinka has last year’s finalist Roberto Bautista Agut in his quarter and the flamboyant Italian third seed Fabio Fognini in his half. A performance anywhere close to his best will easily carry him to the semifinals. The bottom half has the former champion Mikhail Youzhny seeded number two, with Benoit Paire, Edouard Roger-Vasselin and Marcel Granollers for company.

For the Indian players other than Somdev Devvarman, the chances, sadly, hinge on what the international imports do. Wild card Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan opens the singles proceedings on Centre Court against Jiri Vesely, a Czech ranked more than 200 places above him. Yuki Bhambri, if he gets past Pablo Carreno Busta (No. 64), will have Fognini welcoming him next.

Devvarman opens against a qualifier, but could meet Granollers and Paire in successive rounds. From reaching a career-high No. 62 in 2011, to No. 663 at the end of 2012 to No. 90 now, his energies have so far been spent solely on not letting the rankings slip too far lest he be unable to catch-up. It remains to be seen where he goes from here.

On Sunday evening, Wawrinka had a two hour long hit-in on the show court. After initially overcooking his signature one handed backhands he settled down into a nice rhythm. He will have a couple of more days to polish the rough edges, if any. Till such a time it’s for the others to be the show-stoppers.

http://www.thehindu.com/sport/tennis/transformed-wawrinka-is-the-favourite/article5515833.ece

The Indo-Pak Express is back on track

A day after the first trickle of players, it was time for the Aircel Chennai Open to open its doors to its first bunch of big-wigs on Friday.

Benoit Paire, Marcel Granollers, Edouard Roger-Vasselin, Bautista Agut and Sergiy Stakhovsky all made sure that the much-touted international footprint was finally visible. But it was something closer home that was the highlight as the Indo-Pak express, of ‘Stop War, Start Tennis’ fame, Rohan Bopanna and Aisam ul-Haq Qureshi, rolled in.

The two last played together in the ATP World Tour Finals in 2011. While Qureshi stuck with the Dutch player Jean-Julien Rojer in all but two tournaments since then, Bopanna, in a sort of musical chairs, changed eight partners. In was only after Wimbledon this year, that he settled with Frenchman Edouard Roger Vasselin, in a partnership which carried him to a career-high ranking of three in doubles.

The itch to mend the severed ties, however, seems to have always been there. “I approached him at the end of 2012 as well,” says Bopanna. “But as a professional, I respected his decision to continue with Rojer. It’s tough to break a winning combination. I enquired again this year and we are now back.”

As a doubles pair, the two offer something close to a comprehensive package. One adept at the net, while the other, with an admirable back-court game; something that was on display at the hour-long hit-in they had under the lights on the centre court.

“We complement each other rather well,” says Qureshi. “I bring certain things to the game and he brings some. We help each other out. I do it with some volleys and he with ground strokes. It’s just natural. We know each other and have played at the highest level for long enough. Bopanna believes I can help him get his first slam. I feel that he can help me do that as well.”

But two years is a pretty long time. As Bopanna says, having played with a slew of partners, brings with it different playing styles. “But, we are more mature. There will be ups and downs, but we have decided to fight it out,” he adds.

Earlier in the day, when quizzed on the re-union, Bopanna’s former teammate Roger Vasselin had this to say, “Its great that they are together. They form a great team. But its bad news for us opponents.”

Now one just hopes it extends beyond 2014, for, in spite of all the unfriendly banter between their respective countries, the two have a lot of love coming their way. The first indications of those will be visible from Monday.

http://www.thehindu.com/sport/tennis/the-indopak-express-is-back-on-track/article5509109.ece

Open once more

From providing a platform to see world class players perform from close quarters to giving an exposure for top Indian talents to join the milieu, the Aircel Chennai Open has done quite a lot for tennis. It has been the site for a string of breakthroughs, building on which the players have now reached unparalleled heights. Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi’s first ATP title in 2002, Rohan Bopanna’s first even doubles final in 2006 and Somdev Devvarman’s first ever ATP final in 2009, all these are significant milestones for Indian tennis.

But for this coterie of players, a place in the main draw of this premier ATP 250 event has been an elusive dream for most, including the budding youngsters from Tamil Nadu. Try as much as they do and improve year on year, the global world of tennis perennially seems to be a couple of steps ahead. In fact in the last four years, only Prakash Amritraj has made it past the qualifying rounds into the main draw – in 2010 and 2013, while Yuki Bhambri (world no. 195) has received wild cards.

“We are obviously better placed [than earlier years],” says Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan, India’s third best singles player in the world at No. 312. “But a lot of other players are getting better too.”

The cluster consisting of himself, his doubles partner Sriram Balaji, ranked 380 and Ramkumar Ramanathan, No. 502, among others, have all had impressive years, notching up their best ever rankings. Nineteen-year-old Ramkumar, sponsored by the Tamil Nadu Tennis Association (TNTA), has especially had a fantastic tune-up, winning two back-to-back ITF Futures tournaments, which has enabled him jump a whopping 200 places in just a month.

But they are now faced with the lowest ever cut-off for direct entries in the tournament’s history at No. 89, pushing even the country’s highest ranked player, Somdev, out of the main draw. As a result, the qualifying field might sport talents ranking as high as 90 including Sergiy Stakhovsky, who dumped Roger Federer out of Wimbledon in the second round, should he choose to compete.

“Qualifying is very tough,” says the TNTA Secretary C.B.N. Reddy. “It’s like a $100,000 Challenger tournament. In 2011, the current world no. 11, Milos Raonic lost in the final qualifying round but won the title in 2012. So that’s the standard and perhaps as tough as the main draw.”

However, efforts to boost local representation have started in earnest. Held as one of the main reasons, the absence of a single challenger event for a number of years is set to be rectified. In February 2014, two $50,000 (Chennai and Kolkata) and one $100,000 Challengers (Delhi) are scheduled. Come 2015, there could be three in Tamil Nadu alone.

These long term measures aside, backing for the players for the 2014 edition seems forthcoming. “We will continue supporting them,” says Karti.P.Chidambaram, Chairman, Tournament Organising Committee and the AITA Vice-president. “It’s likely that a Tamil Nadu player will be given a wild card in the singles and certainly in the doubles.”

For this year, the Open will continue doing what it has been doing all these years. As Jeevan and Ramkumar say, “soothe your nerves and prepare you mentally for battles abroad, help you not to be awestruck when you meet top players elsewhere, drive you to practice more, focus more and learn a lot by just getting out there.” But who knows, a surprise may be in store. Remember 2009, when a player ranked 202 made a memorable run to the final?

Edited version:

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/chen-sports/open-once-more/article5473989.ece?utm_content=buffere6af7&utm_source=buffer&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Buffer

‘It would be special to go deep in Chennai’

From pretty much an unknown at the start of the year, Canada’s Vasek Pospisil is now one of the most exciting of newcomers.

In 2013 he beat top-10 players, achieved Davis Cup success and almost etched his name alongside those who spoilt many a Roger Federer party (he lost in three sets at Basel).

Now ranked 32 in the world, the 23-year-old dwelt on the year gone by in an email interaction with The Hindu, ahead of the Aircel Chennai Open.

What were your goals when you were young?

To be a professional tennis player though not very specific in terms of rankings or achievements. It seemed like a long shot from my ‘small’ town [Vancouver]. I watched the Grand Slams on TV and dreamed that it would be me one day.

From being ranked in the 300s in 2010 to 140 at the start of 2013 to No. 32 now, how has the journey been?

Amazing. There have been a lot of sacrifices, tons of hard work, and lots of patience. It's extremely satisfying to see myself improve the way I have.

At the Montreal Masters you beat John Isner and Tomas Berdych and reached the semis. Is that your most memorable moment of the year also considering that it was there in 2011 you won your first tour match too?

Absolutely. I would say it was the most memorable one of my career. It was incredible to play so well at my home tournament and to have my breakthrough there.

How was it being a part of the Canada team which was a semifinalist in the Davis Cup?

Canada had never made it past the first round of the World Group and to accomplish that was a moving experience. For a tennis player, there’s really no other feeling quite like representing your country. It’s an adrenaline rush unmatched by other competitions and always makes you a tougher competitor.

Your compatriot Milos Raonic [now world no. 11] won here in Chennai in 2012. What are your expectations?

I go into every tournament wanting to do well. It would be really special to go deep in Chennai. Of course, I would love to win the tournament, but I’m sure the other 31 players would like to as well.

Your goal so far has been “to be a consistent Top 30 player”. Now that is going to change for 2014 right?

Yes! It’s human nature to want more when you achieve something and now that I am ranked where I am, my goal is to be a top-10 player.

From Twitter we learn that you are addicted to coconut water. Tell us about that.

I truly am. The first time I had it, it was disgusting. I’m not sure if it’s because I drank it warm but I refused to drink it for a few years after that. Then one day I tried it again and it was delicious. The more I drink it now, the more I want. It’s starting to get out of control!

http://www.thehindu.com/sport/tennis/it-would-be-special-to-go-deep-in-chennai/article5470925.ece#comments

'I hope to do well again in Chennai'

CHENNAI: Etched on his left arm is a tattoo that reads, “Try again. Fail again. Fail better”, a quote of the great Irish writer Samuel Beckett. For a good part of the year, he has indeed failed better, notching up eight wins over the top 10 and losing only to the best.

Due to feature at the Aircel Chennai Open as the top seed, the world’s eighth best player, Stanislas Wawrinka, shared his thoughts in an email interview with The Hindu.

What did you do differently in 2013 to result in such a great season?

I gained a lot of confidence from my great performance in Australia even if I finally lost to Novak Djokovic. Winning in Oeiras [Portugal Open] was a huge confidence booster. I always knew that I could be back in the top 10 if I keep working hard and I’m happy that I made it.

Close losses like those to Djokovic in Melbourne and New York might have shattered many but you seem to have gained strength from them. Can you explain that?

You probably know about the tattoo. As a tennis player you have to get used to losing. There’s only one player a week who goes home without losing. Even if you play a great event like I did in New York [first ever Grand Slam semifinal], you end up losing. But the most important thing is what you learn from losing, how you improve and work afterwards.

At 28 years, do you feel the breakthrough year has come a bit too late?

Not at all. Look at players like Roger Federer, Tommy Haas or Radek Stepanek. They all play great tennis and are over 30. Today’s tennis is played at such a high level, you need to grow into it, have experience, learn how to deal with your body, the traveling, the pressure and so on.

Do you think you have finally emerged out of Roger Federer’s shadow?

To me he’s the biggest player of all-time. I would never ever compare myself to him. So emerging of his shadow would never be a goal. What happened this year, especially in Switzerland, is that people started paying much more attention to me because of my good results and the way I was fighting during some big matches. That’s what counts for me.

Now you are into the top 8. Where do you go from here and what are your goals for 2014?

Players in the top 20 are very close to each other and it’s so tough to step ahead. So I’m glad to be back in the top 10 and even happier to reach my career best ranking of eight. Now I want to make it to another semifinal. You don’t have to take anything for granted. It would be arrogant to say that I want to reach a final because I reached a semifinal this year. Of course I want to go as far as possible and I would love to do very well again.

This is your sixth visit to the city. You have been both a singles and doubles champion. What are your expectations?

Chennai has always been one my favourite stops. I like coming here and the atmosphere on centre court is always great. Of course I have great memories from 2011 and also from last year when I won the doubles. I’m looking forward to being back and hoping to make another strong appearance.

Edited version:

http://www.thehindu.com/sport/tennis/i-hope-to-do-well-again-in-chennai-wawrinka/article5441242.ece

‘Magnus is a fun guy, very social’

CHENNAI: Media-glare has been Magnus Carlsen’s constant companion ever since he landed here on Monday evening. But he has got down to doing his thing right away. Far from the clutter that accompanies city-life, Carlsen has found calm in the serene surroundings at a hotel in the outskirts. 

The 22-year-old plans to head to Hyatt Regency, the venue of his World Championship duel with holder Viswanathan Anand, on Wednesday evening. Apart from a haircut, on the agenda is a quiet dinner with his family and team. 

On Tuesday, his manager, Espen Agdestein, spoke to The Hindu on Carlsen’s preparations, his love for outdoor sport, and his interests that extend beyond the 64 squares.

Excerpts: 

How hectic have things been since you landed here?

It’s been very busy for me. For Magnus, it’s been quiet. He is relaxing. I am trying to take the tension away from him. He will try to sleep well, play other sports, and get ready.

Tell us about Magnus, the person.

Magnus is basically a fun guy, very social, and likes to pull pranks. He keeps track of all kinds of stuff and is very interested about sports in general. Magnus follows football, but is very interested in American basketball. 

How does he prepare for such important contests?

It’s quite similar to how he prepares otherwise. He tries not to train too much, and has been very successful with his routine.

How has he been relaxing ever since he came here?

Magnus has been playing some water-sports, swimming in the ocean, and things like that. He loves outdoor sports.

Having brought his chef along, is he sticking to a specific diet?

The chef is here mainly as an advisor. Magnus likes Indian, Italian and Chinese cuisines. So, he does plan to eat Indian food here. He will cut down on sugar to keep the blood-sugar levels intact.

How has the Oman stint helped?

Magnus likes warm climate and the sun. He can’t get that in Europe at the moment. Also, he needed to stay somewhere close to India to acclimatise to the time-difference.

How crucial is his family’s presence here?

Magnus thinks it makes him feel relaxed and calm. He doesn’t do it always, though. His father accompanies him generally, but he has, on occasion, travelled with his family too.

How big a star is he in Norway?

He is a superstar. Magnus has fans in all countries, I guess. He has endorsement deals. He likes to do the fashion things (modelling) because he thinks its fun. It helps him broaden his horizons. It’s not necessary for a chess player to play all the time. You can do other things and it’s good for your balance. People in other sports can handle other interests. I guess chess players can do that as well.

http://www.thehindu.com/sport/other-sports/magnus-is-a-fun-guy-very-social/article5318165.ece

'Our goal is to be a strong No. 2 to cricket'

SACRAMENTO: “Shaq is swinging a cricket bat at the Arena? Can you imagine that?” asked a voice with disbelief. “There will be a Bollywood dance show at half-time today,” quipped a professor who teaches immigrant and ethnic relations at the University of California. “Quite an apt thing for a region which has the fastest growing Indo-American population isn’t it,” he adds.

For a good two hours amidst all the festivities before the season opener between Sacromento Kings and Denver Nuggets at the Sleep Train Arena, a humdinger which the Kings later won 90-88, the match itself seemed incidental. Five months ago, the locals weren’t even sure whether there would be a team to cheer for. This was until an Indian businessman settled in the United States, Vivek Randive, Chairman of the billion-dollar enterprise TIBCO Software, impressed on the NBA to sell the Kings to him rather than to someone who was intent on moving it to Seattle. The ‘someone’ was none other than the current Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer!

From exhibition cricket, to Bollywood dances to bill board’s carrying the message ‘Namaste India’, there was Indian touch to practically everything. Randive now has a majority stake and in late September, Los Angeles Lakers legend Shaquille O’Neal became a minority owner.

Prior to the celebrations, Randive, in a media interaction dwelt on how he plans to take the game to India, making a dent in a country that seems to favour cricket disproportionately and his future plans for the team.

Excerpts:

On the vision for the club: We pledge to build a winning franchise, that enhances the lives of all those it touches, adds a set of values – excellence, integrity, openness, hard work and fun. We hope to never let the fans and the local community down.

On plans to expand the game in India: We know that cricket is the national pastime. So we are not looking at Basketball to surpass it. Our goal is to be a strong No. 2 to cricket. We have launched a Hindi language website. TV broadcast has started. We will have clinics and exhibition games. Out team will go to India and O’Neal has promised to come with me.

Can increasing viewership translate into more talent emerging? Doesn’t seem to be happening with Football: We are not expecting any overnight success. But it is becoming one of the fastest growing sports in India. Our commitment is long-term. It’s the only American sport that easily connects with Indians. It has no competition vis-à-vis NHL which has field hockey and Baseball, cricket. We have players coming from Punjab like Satnam Singh and the Bhullar brothers who could one day turn out for NBA teams. In the next five years I would be very surprised if there wasn’t an Indian player in the NBA.

Edited version:

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-sports/our-goal-is-to-be-a-strong-no-2-to-cricket-ranadive/article5303019.ece

'I hope to make my team better'

LOS ANGELES: “We want to be the best team in LA (Los Angeles),” said Matt Barnes, the LA Clippers’ small forward. In the three seasons that have passed since LA Lakers’ last NBA triumph, the Clippers have indeed managed to be at least on par if not better than their cross-town rivals. So much so that in the last season, the Lakers lost all four matches against the Clippers. Injuries, coaching changes, form dips all contributed to it. A string of free-agent acquisitions of relatively unknown talent raised eyebrows and it was tough to refute claims that their inexperience would show up and not their potential.

For close to three-quarters of the season opener between the two LA sides at the staples center on Tuesday, it seemed that there would be no change in the storyline. But a commanding display by the Lakers’ bench – both the experienced hands, Pau Gasol and Steve Nash, weren’t on the court – ensured a 106-103 win. Prior to the game, the Spanish international Gasol spoke on the very same aspects in an interaction.

Excerpts:

How different are the expectations this season from last year? Then the word ‘title’ was being mentioned in spite of a bad pre-season but not now. Will it then be about trying to prove people wrong?

Yeah. They are different situations. We need to play as well as we can. Try and improve every day. We knew something wasn’t clicking last year. After that pre-season [0-8] there were alarm bells. But this pre-season has been a lot more positive and we have done things a lot better; the attitudes of the players, the togetherness and the atmosphere have all been good.

So will there be extra build-up and excitement?

We have been looking forward to this moment throughout the summer. There will be more energy and more tension as well, especially for me. I didn’t play in the off season with my national team, which is rare. I am coming off an injury but I had a good pre-season, perhaps one of the best I have ever had. I focused well, maximized every opportunity and so it’s about bringing all that together.

Is it odd that people have more expectations of the Clippers rather than the Lakers?

Life is a cycle, so is NBA. There are ups and downs. But every year is different so it doesn’t mean much to me. We have had high expectations before and they ended in failures. So we need to try and turn these low expectations into successes.

Any additional responsibilities that you will be carrying this year with Kobe Bryant still out with an injury?

Yeah. I’ll be carrying more load offensively and to an extent defensively as well.

Is that more exciting then and the fact that all the balls have to go through you?

It is and i am looking forward to it. I hope to make my team better by making better decisions and finding the open man, to make sure that every player moves and is active. And to make everybody understand that if he is open he is going to get the ball.

Any personal targets?

Not really. I am just looking for good individual performances that can contribute to the team’s success.

http://www.thehindu.com/sport/other-sports/i-hope-to-make-my-team-better-gasol/article5297029.ece

Ending on a high

In his brilliant book, What Sport Tells Us About Life, English cricketer turned author Ed Smith, discusses at length what keeps players going well past their prime. Is it a sense of belonging or is it money? Or is it a never-ending love for the sport which gave them everything? In a more recent article in ESPNCricinfo, he asks: “what motivates them? How can great athletes, who once dominated their sports, appear to settle for a more subordinate role? Or do they still feel that glories lie around the corner? Can matinee idols become supporting actors? Can gods become men?”

How many great champions have actually ended their careers as they have started: as champions? And how many after biting the bullet initially have proved that the love for the art form is too enticing to hold back and staged prolonged and less than successful comebacks? Pete Sampras, Michael Phelps and some more fall into the first category, while Michael Jordan, Michael Schumacher and many more into the second.

Here is a sneak peek into some from the first group.

Bjorn Borg, Steffi Graf & Pete Sampras:

He turned pro when he was all of 16 years and retired a decade later at the height of his prowess. After five Wimbledon crowns on the trot (1976-80), ‘Ice Borg’ lost two Grand Slam finals to John McEnroe in 1981 (Wimbledon and U.S. Open). In 1982 he played in only one tournament and left the game on January 22, 1983.

“I know I could play another five years,” Borg told the New York Times. “So to make this step, I wanted to be 101 percent sure before I decided. To retire at 26, that's very, very young. Just telling the simple truth that I don’t enjoy it, I’m not motivated and I need to try other things. To take that step is difficult for a lot of people.”

Like Borg, German Steffi Graf too retired early after winning her sixth French title and her 22nd major in 1999 aged 30. Again, similar to Borg, a case of struggling to remain motivated while still near the top.

‘Pistol Pete’, as he was fondly called, had gone eight majors without a title when he entered the 2002 U.S. Open. Seven matches later he proudly held his fifth United States crown after defeating his arch-rival Andre Agassi. That was to be his last competitive match as he called it quits a year later.

Mark Spitz & Michael Phelps:

The 1972 Munich Olympics is a watershed event in swimming history. A 22-year-old American Jew, Mark Spitz, won all his seven events, a record that would stay for 36 long years before another American Michael Phelps would shatter it in 2008 by winning eight. Immediately after, Spitz retired shocking one and all.

Phelps, after the monumental high of winning every race he entered in 2008, added four more golds in 2012 to become the most decorated Olympian of all-time — 22 medals, 18 of them gold. As he had announced months before London 2012, he gave up his Speedo once the Games ended.

“Being able to be the most decorated was something we really wanted,” he told Los Angeles Times. “To be the best and to do something nobody else has ever done was something that was there. There will be no more staring at that black line for four hours every day. I’m looking forward to moving on to the next chapter of my life.”

Rocky Marciano:

He was rejected from the Chicago Cubs’ farm system in baseball as they felt his right arm lacked power. But Rocky Marciano was destined for greatness elsewhere — inside the boxing ring. A 49-0 record as a pro, to this day he remains the only heavyweight boxing champion to ever retire undefeated. He called it a day when he was 31.

“I didn’t get hurt physically while fighting,” he said. “My physical condition has nothing to do with my retirement. My lonesome family convinced me that I should quit while I’m still in good shape.”

Jim Brown:

Not many will leave a sport that pays a whopping $60,000 a season, that too in the 1960s. But Jim Brown decided to after nine seasons in National Football League with the Cleveland Browns, aged 30. In his final season he rushed for 1,544 yards on 289 carries, scored 21 Touch Downs, and was named Most Valuable Player. In fact he led the NFL in rushing yards in eight of his nine seasons and quit as its all-time leading rusher.

Eric Cantona:

He was bought by Manchester United for a paltry sum of just over a million pounds, but he went on to become one of the giants of the English league. He never represented France, his home country, in the World Cup, but still his iconic status remains unquestioned.

He won four league titles in five years, including two domestic doubles, before retiring at the peak of his professional career in 1997 aged 30.

http://www.sportstaronnet.com/stories/20131026502401700.htm

'Next year will see peace & harmony in the side'

It has been less than a month since Anand Amritraj was appointed the captain of the Indian Davis Cup team. In a welcome relief, congratulatory messages have poured in from the very same players who were the forefront of a face-off with the All India Tennis Association (AITA). In this exclusive chat with The Hindu, the former India player spoke on his new role, expectations and targets.

Excerpts:

Were you expecting the appointment?

After S.P. Misra, the previous captain, left, I knew I was in line for it. I knew that the boys, Somdev [Devvarman], Rohan [Bopanna] and the others wanted me. It was just a question of everybody coming to terms with it and the AITA agreeing. But I wasn’t sure till it happened.

Last year we didn’t have a great Olympics and there were the player protests. The Indian Tennis Players Association (ITPA) was then formed. How do you see things unfolding from now on?

It’s going to be smooth sailing. The players have got pretty much what they wanted. The AITA is I think happy with the decision. This coming year will see peace and harmony in the side and I don’t see any reason why it shouldn’t be.

What will your role be? Along with the non-playing captain duties, will you also be looking at selection and player development?

I am hoping for a say in the selection. We should field the best team we can. There should be no other criteria other than ranking and form. Whoever plays well and whoever is in form is going to be picked.

Regarding player development, I really enjoy doing it, whether I am in Chennai or at the Southern California Tennis Association.

Are you looking at pool of players from where you can select?

Somdev has been great. It’s amazing how far he has got in so little time – from 600 odd to the top 100 in nine months. After him, we have Yuki [Bhambri], Sanam [Singh], Dhivij [Saran], Saketh [Myneni] among others. But they haven’t had a big breakthrough year. We need people for the second singles. You can’t rely on Somdev to win every time. It’s too much pressure. Rohan [Bopanna] has had an amazing year in doubles. But we have always had great doubles players. That’s not my main concern. Singles is.

Traditionally India’ strength has been grass. But with the younger crop more tuned to the hard courts, do you see that trend continuing?

It’s going to stay that way. When I played, our best surface [grass] was the opponent’s worst. It was an easy decision, but not now. Somdev’s best will also be his opponent’s best surface. So it’s a fine line. But Somdev is good on hard courts and we have to go along with what’s best for our best player. 

You are based in the United States and come to India four times a year. So how frequent will your interactions be with the players and will you travel more?

Not really. A lot of tournaments happen in the US and England. I am always at the Wimbledon and the US Open. I am also planning to go a lot of Challenger events where these players are going to be at. I’ll have a lot more chances to see them there than sitting here.

Your brief is till the end of 2014. What is your target?

The goal is to get into the World Group. Players need to stay healthy and be able to play through the year. I think it’s definitely doable. We need the second singles guy to make the jump. The sooner that happens the sooner we will get in.

Edited version:

http://www.thehindu.com/sport/tennis/next-year-will-see-peace-harmony-in-the-side-anand-amritraj/article5234555.ece

Unyielding fielding

Gravity defying acts on the cricketing field are no longer a novelty. It’s more a norm. But it was not so two decades ago. It all changed when a youngster with blond hair in his early twenties made an entry. Now after a fulfilling playing career, the South African Jonty Rhodes is busy teaching the Mumbai Indians in the IPL and the South African national team, the skills which he employed to swoop on the ball from backward point. He doubles up as an ambassador for Surfing in India too and the still immaculately shaped 44-year-old spoke to Sportstar on the sidelines of an event in Chennai.

Excerpts:

How has the art of fielding changed over the years?

Nowadays with T20 cricket, the IPL and better bats, the batsman take on the fielders. So defending your boundary has become very important. Keiron Pollard fields in the ring for the first six or seven overs and later on he is near the boundary. In my days the best fielders used to field at positions like the backward point. Now you see them at mid-on, long on, long off or wherever the ball goes. If you can’t catch it, at least you can stop it and get the ball back in.

So the emphasis is more on all-round fielding?

Yes. You have got to field everywhere. For long Andrew Symonds was perhaps the best-all round fielder. He was excellent in the ring. He had very strong arms, so he was good at the boundary as well. People like me and Herschelle Gibbs were good in the ring, but not as good at the boundary. But nowadays you see most fielders do both. From David Warner to Suresh Raina to AB de Villiers when he is not keeping.

What do you tell your boys when they go out on to the field?

Save one run. If each guy saves me one run, it gives me ten runs. Margins in most 20 over games come down to three or four [runs].

In the recent Champions Trophy, India was perhaps the best fielding side. What do you think has changed from before?

The limited overs set-up has had an effect. You used to have four or five really slow guys but now there are none. Nowadays with shots like ‘Dilscoop’ and the reverse sweeps, you really can’t hide fielders. So I think it’s the IPL. I remember doing some work with the late Bob Woolmer while was coaching Pakistan. The senior players said, ‘Jonty is wasting his time here. In the subcontinent there is no culture of fielding.’ That was in 2004-05 and may be it was so. But now, young players are getting coached by international coaches and play with international players. It’s not just the international guys doing great things on the field, but young Indians too. The whole intensity and ethos have been absorbed by them. It’s also that if you haven’t scored any runs with the bat, you still have a job to do. So the IPL has gone a long way in improving the skills.

Who do you think are the best fielders in India? Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina?

Yeah…. and [Ravindra] Jadeja too. But those two guys really stand up. I like Raina’s enthusiasm. He reminds me of myself a little bit. He will dive for a ball even if he knows he can’t get it. Many guys later think ‘may be I should have gone for it’, but with Raina, there is no confusion. He will either stop it or the ball will storm past. I used to do the same thing. My team used criticise me. But sometimes you would catch one and the photo would be on the newspapers [laughs].

Rohit Sharma captained the Mumbai Indians (MI) side recently and won the IPL too. Has that given him more confidence as a batsman? He opened for India in the Champions Trophy and did reasonably well.
 
When I watch him at the nets I think ‘for someone so talented how on earth hasn’t he played much for India?’ There have been instances where after someone takes over the captaincy, the form suffers. But with Rohit, it hasn’t happened. He is a fairly quiet man. He is not a Kohli and has a different body language. But he is an intense guy when he bats and leads from the front. It might not be in your face but he leads by scoring runs and winning games for the team.

Sachin Tendulkar won’t be around for MI next year. How big a loss is that?

It’s hard to believe. He has been there for 20 years now and has been synonymous with cricket in India. But I think it will be ok. We won the trophy last time while he was injured for the last couple of games. Two years ago we won the Champions League without him. So there is definitely life after Sachin. But the way he has inspired younger guys to be hungry for runs is great. Someone like Kohli, who probably has more 100s and 50s than any other player in his age group right now. With Sachin setting such high standards, the younger guys want to do better. He might retire but his legacy will live on for a long time.

India will be touring South Africa later this year. How do you see the series?

It will be fiery. But it seems the BCCI and the South African board are not the best of friends at this stage. It’s frustrating because cricket lovers would want to see the two best sides play more than two tests. But it will be a good Test series. India for quite a while was not a good touring side. Now there are lot of characters in M.S. Dhoni, Kohli who can help take on South Africa. Zaheer is getting back to shape as well. He may not be as fast as he once was but he is a great swing bowler.

What about South Africa? Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis might be at the end of their careers. How do you see them in the lead up to the 2015 World Cup?
 
We always keep thinking how we are going to survive without some but ultimately we do. Like how Mark Boucher replaced Dave Richardson, who was our first wicketkeeper-batsman. But with Kallis it will be very difficult. You replace him with a batsman, you lose a bowler and vice-versa. But we have been fortunate enough to have had all-rounders of calibre like Shaun Pollock, Lance Klusener and now Kallis. Hopefully someone will come along.

It will be interesting to see the effect on the South African Test team because it has been a settled unit for close to three years now and that has helped them get to No. 1 in the rankings.

An edited version of the interview can be found here:
http://www.sportstaronnet.com/stories/20131019502701700.htm

Will Nadal's winning streak continue in 2014?

Rafael Nadal has had a lot going for him this season. He has won two Grand Slams out of four, five of the six Masters 1000 titles he has competed in, notched up a 61-3 win-loss record, including 22-0 on his least comfortable surface, the hard court. The latter mark is both his personal best and the best amongst his peers on the ATP World Tour.

All this after losing a good seven months last year to injury — a troublesome knee, a problem which has since been diagnosed as chronic. The achievements have catapulted the Spaniard to a position from where it seems a mere formality before he reclaims the top spot which he surrendered to Novak Djokovic in July 2011.

He trails by a mere 260 points with two more Masters tournaments and the World Tour Finals to go. The story is definitely incredible and the adulations that Nadal is basking in are wholly justified. Some experts even say that Nadal is now firmly back in the GOAT (greatest of all time) debate.

But here is the caveat. Tennis rankings being the way they are, the real weight of these performances and the accompanying pressure will be felt by Nadal only next year. Every week the rankings take into account the worth of one’s efforts in the preceding 52 weeks. The sheer number of points he will have to defend in 2014 – due to all the title wins in 2013 – will be huge. In addition he will have to do it overcoming the historical precedence of having floundered at the pinnacle even after turning in stupendous performances to reach there. So the question will be — how long can he keep beating both his opponents and his knee?

When Nadal lost to 135th ranked Steve Darcis in the first round at Wimbledon in June, in the backdrop of his loss to 100th ranked Lukas Rosol in the second round in the previous edition, it pointed to a mid-season ritual year on year. It looked as if his calendar year from then on would comprise two contrasting halves. The first that will include a gruelling but fulfilling clay season and the second accommodating less than satisfactory conquests on other surfaces. One to defend all those points accumulated on clay in the previous years and the other to rest and protect his knee.

However, with the pleasant surprise the second half of 2013 has been, where he has mastered the very same surface whose ‘stress-inducing’ qualities he has often bemoaned, he has his task cut out for next year. The big advantage that he has had so far is the absence of any baggage. While Djokovic, post-Wimbledon had 5810 points to defend through the year, Nadal had none.

The pressure that comes with having to better previous year’s performance every time you step on the court can be telling. Djokovic found out these harsh realities this year after two hugely successful seasons. Now going into the final two months of the season and into the 2014 Australian Open, Djokovic will have 5010 points to defend and Nadal again none.

However, should Nadal do well for the remainder of 2013 and Down Under the next year, in the process clinch the No. 1 ranking as well, he will have an extremely tough job living up to these standards.

The 27-year-old is no doubt capable enough, as most would agree. But the sticking point is him not having done well when at the top. As an under-study he has revelled, but having reached the summit twice, once each in 2008 and 2010, he has stayed there for just a combined 102 weeks. Just four of his 13 majors have come when ranked No. 1.

For Nadal, all along, in spite of his phenomenal exploits on clay and commendable displays on grass, it’s the U.S. Open that has really marked significant shifts in his career. In 2010, he won in New York for the first time beating Djokovic. He had raised his game a notch to show his remarkable all-court skills. The next year, he suffered a string of defeats at the hands of the Serb and the latter had really taken command.

But it was at the U.S. Open again that one could see him try different things, adapt and fight back. These qualities were visible against Djokovic in the 2012 Australian Open final which he should have probably won. The knee injury forced him out of Flushing Meadows in 2012.

So, 2013 seems a lot like 2010. A year in which Nadal has taken his tennis even higher, employing a more aggressive game, devising a successful plan to defeat his nemesis Djokovic and win the U.S. Open title again.

But will the next year be a deja vu or will Nadal rise even higher? Djokovic doesn’t seem a spent force and these two have a proven rivalry that has gone back and forth and might as well go so in the future.

Add to the mix, Andy Murray, whose victory at Wimbledon would have unburdened him manifold.

When Nadal was asked after the US Open victory, “how hungry was he after missing seven months,” he replied: “I was not that hungry, because I didn't think something like this could happen. I never thought about competing for all that I competed for this year, so it's just more than I dreamed. Feel very lucky for what happened since I come back.”

A bigger test awaits him next year, when he will compete to defend all that he has won so far this season and might win in the remaining two months.

http://www.tssonnet.com/stories/20131005505303700.htm

Success at Sixteen

A five-foot-one-inch frame. Diminutive for an up-and-coming tennis player, one would say, in an age where burgeoning ground-strokes and brute power are staples. But packed into it are tremendous zeal, a relentless drive to win, and a fine ball-striking ability.

“I never think of losing,” she says. “I just want to win and am always hungry.” This is the 16-year-old Tamil Nadu player Snehadevi Reddy, who recently won the adidas National Junior (under-18) Championship held in Chennai to add to her under-16 title and the under-14, 16 and 18 doubles trophies.

The current year has seen Snehadevi scale new heights. She won the Asian Youth Championship held in New Delhi in April, overcoming a tear in her serving shoulder. She then played in the qualifying rounds of the junior French Open, her first ever Grand Slam event. But the year was also witness to her suffering a shattering personal loss when she lost her mother in May. This forced her to withdraw from all the succeeding tournaments, including The Championships at Wimbledon.

Emerging from the gloom

But three months on, she has battled admirably, riding on the highs, to emerge from the gloom, a stronger person and a better player. “The Nationals victory was good,” she says. “It was my first (tournament) after the withdrawals and it was great to start playing again and winning.”

Right from age five, when she first started playing tennis, she has had constant support from her father. A case in point is when he asked her to choose NIOS (National Institute of Open Schooling) and place tennis at the forefront.

“I was a sportsman myself,” says her father Shankar Reddy. “I was into shooting. But I couldn’t afford to buy a rifle and, therefore, couldn’t pursue the sport. That drove me to encourage my daughter to become a sportswoman.”

More recently, the Sanchez Casal Academy, where Snehadevi trained last year, the 4Slam Tennis Academy in Barcelona, where she spent a good part of this year, and the Tamil Nadu Tennis Association (TNTA), have all backed her. It is to these institutions that Snehadevi attributes the improvement in her game, her fitness and endurance.

“The stints in Spain have definitely helped. They are all clay courts and Spain is known for that. The coaches there really helped me. Milos Raonic’s former coach Galo Blanco is one among those. Everyone there supported me a lot and the TNTA too.”

Juniors till year-end

Though she now aspires to play in the women’s circuit, it will be the juniors at least till the year-end. She will compete in eight more tournaments the world over, including the Dunlop Orange Bowl Tennis Championships in the U.S., a prestigious championship which Yuki Bhambri won in 2008. This will help her garner enough points to get into the top 50 in the junior rankings (she is currently No. 79) and earn her a spot in the main draw of all the four Grand Slams in 2014.

But her long-term goal is to build on her successes at the junior level and counter the ultimate challenge of doing well in the women’s circuit. This pursuit will start early next year and will go hand-in-hand with the junior Grand Slams.

“The juniors will give me good experience. It’s a stage, a kind of starting block. But what happens in the women’s field is the most important thing. Yes, every tournament is big and I do want to win all of them, but the women’s circuit is completely different and eventually that’s what matters” she says.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/chen-sports/success-at-sixteen/article5067816.ece

‘It’s exciting for the NBA to be here’

It has been over three years since Troy Justice was appointed the NBA’s Senior Director, Basketball Operations, India. Brisk and energetic, his brief includes travelling round the country, interacting with players and coaches alike and devising newer methods to take hoops to an all-new level. Sportstar caught up with him on the sidelines of a private function in Chennai as he shed light on the basketball scene in the country, its further development and what the future holds.

Excerpts:

Question: What is the primary objective of NBA in India?

Answer: It’s exciting for the NBA to be here. India is a priority country. The objective is to grow basketball at the grassroots. The aim is to get more kids bouncing basketballs. It is to give eight-year-olds and nine-year-olds enough opportunities to play and participate.

How do you assess the overall scenario in India?

The basketball level has grown since the first time I was here. I go to the national tournaments and the national camps. The candidate pool for the nationals is getting wider with each passing day. We have players now in India who are being observed and seen on the global scale. The Indian women recently won the FIBA Asia 3x3 Championship in Doha, which is a good sign.

How have the player’s skills developed since you came here first?

We are seeing very organised basketball being played right now. When I first came, it was very freelance, like taking the first available shot, shooting as against passing and moving. With more training sessions taking place across the country and with emphasis on specific skills, the players have started to play a better defence. Also, the offensive set-plays are being well thought out. So what we are actually seeing is the coaching grow and with that the players’ skills.

How important is coaching development?

It is very important and we have been focussing on it. In the past three and half years we have conducted about 450 training clinics for players and coaches. We have had 21 NBA / WBNBA players who have come down to India since 2008, to interact with them — eight-time NBA All-Star Chris Bosh (Miami Heats) being the latest.

Seventeen-year-old Satnam Singh Bhamara is considered a prodigy and is touted to do to India what Yao Ming did to China in creating a basketball wave. How is he coming along at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida? And do you think we need more such young players to give basketball a fillip?

Yeah, absolutely. Satnam has made huge progress. He is getting stronger. At last year’s FIBA Asia under-16 championships, he averaged the most points in the tournament. He is now capable of standing up and hitting a 15-foot jumper, an 18-foot jumper. He is learning fast. There is one more boy named Palpreet Singh. He is of the same age as Satnam. A 6-foot-10 athletic shot blocker — a very talented player.

In the U.S., college basketball is the feeder for the NBA. How crucial do you think it is to develop such a system in schools here?

Schools are critical. They are the backbone for developing basketball at the grassroots level. That’s why we are focussing on schools. Our junior NBA curriculum is used to develop things at schools. Earlier the kids start, the better they will be.

Coming to the present, other countries are obviously ahead of India. What do you think will be a realistic time-frame for India to catch-up with the rest?

Great things take time. They require a lot of hard work. We understand where we are now and we all know about the potential that exists. It’s unlimited. It’s a matter of working everyday and over a course of time it adds up to a huge improvement. It’s actually hard to identify a timeframe. It depends upon the work that’s put in.

Honestly I believe we are not that far off. In the next five years you are going to see incredible growth — both at the grassroots and national levels.

What is the NBA planning in the days ahead?

Every three months or six months we have something new to offer. Our coaching programmes continue to go to newer places every year. From last year we have our NBA 3X which will continue to grow. The national winners will play in the world tour, which will give them much needed international exposure. If they win there they get will enter the FIBA World 3X Championships. So we are looking forward to all these.

http://www.sportstaronnet.com/stories/20130727505104200.htm