Chennai Open Challenger Diary: Of old champions, star kids and a chance to improve Indian tennis

The SDAT Stadium in Chennai was bustling with exercise on Saturday. It was the start of The ATP Challenger Tour’s one-week keep within the metropolis and preparations had been in full swing.

The pleasure compounded after Borg discovered his title in the principle draw wildcards. No, not the ever-so-poised, 11-time Grand-Slam-winning, former World No.1, however his 19-year-old son Leo. The risk of Bjorn’s attendance on the venue, at the same time as a spectator, did carry a smile to Sportstar.

An added pleasure to the day was a reprieve from the standard, smelting Chennai solar.

For the gamers, the back-and-forth thudding and slicing of a tennis ball was nonetheless a while away. They strolled alongside the observe beside the outer courts, which had been now adorned with the blue ATP logos. Some had been packing their gear within the stand, gearing up for the day forward.

Right reverse the courts, on the occasion’s entrance desk, was the place the battle was raging. The reception was flooded with queries concerning the observe schedule, and the transport desk rushed to find the following shuttle from the lodge. Mixed with this clamour had been requests for observe balls, accreditation and water bottles.

One group of volunteers was adopted by one other, each scurrying to get the last-minute element in place. The scorecards had been getting deposited at their respective courts and tents had been being erected within the stands. This was time for the ultimate contact.

Sportstar managed to evade the commotion in a single piece and made it to the centre courtroom. Sumit Nagal, recent off the Davis Cup triumph towards Denmark’s Auguste Holmgren, grunted on his forehands to maintain the ante excessive. This was his final view of the courtroom earlier than the qualifying rounds on Sunday. A loud “good shot” from his coach Somdev Devvarman interlaced Nagal’s pictures.

On the opposite finish, Manish Sureshkumar stood stiff, matching Nagal blow for blow. He was one other Indian flag bearer within the qualifying draw. Two four-game units and a mini-tie break later, nevertheless, Nagal established the bragging rights.

As the duo trudged out of the enjoying space, Devvarman obliged for a fast phrase with Sportstar concerning the upcoming month in Indian tennis.

“I think they’re very important tournaments (Challengers in Chennai, Bengaluru and Pune). It’s good for the players. Like a Manish, a Sumit, Praj (Prajnesh Gunneswaran), Ram (Ramkumar Ramanathan), or Mukund (Sasikumar), all these are playing a good level of tennis. Are they playing at the highest level? No! They need these events since they have a chance of going deep.”

On his exit from the function enviornment, Sportstar was greeted with to-and-fro pounding of inexperienced. The voices of gamers and their coaches echoed from throughout six totally different courts.

A shuttle got here to a halt on the entrance gate, bringing one other rating of gamers to the venue. The pageant was solely beginning. Sportstar would return.