Indian tennis has longbeen a tale of two formats. While the country has produced world-class doublesplayers who have dominated the international circuit, success in singles hasremained elusive. This disparity has been a subject of much discussion andanalysis within the tennis community, with various factors being cited aspotential reasons for this phenomenon. The contrast is stark, with Indiaboasting multiple Grand Slam champions in doubles while struggling to make asignificant impact in singles at the highest level.
One of the mostsignificant factors contributing to India's success in doubles is the richlegacy of partnerships that have emerged from the country. Leander Paes andMahesh Bhupathi, often referred to as the "Indian Express," set thestandard for doubles excellence in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Theirsuccess inspired a generation of players, including Rohan Bopanna and SaniaMirza, who have continued to excel in doubles on the global stage. Theseplayers have collectively amassed numerous Grand Slam titles and Olympicmedals, cementing India's reputation as a doubles powerhouse. Paes, inparticular, has been a beacon of longevity and success, winning 18 Grand Slamdoubles titles across three decades.
However, the singlesformat has proven to be a more challenging arena for Indian players. Whilethere have been occasional breakthroughs, such as Somdev Devvarman reaching thetop 100 in the ATP rankings, sustained success at the highest level has been rare.This discrepancy has led to much speculation about the underlying causes, withfactors ranging from physical attributes to training methodologies beingscrutinized. The last Indian player to make a significant impact in singles wasVijay Amritraj in the 1970s and 1980s, highlighting the long-standing nature ofthis issue.
One perspective on thisissue was offered by Sukhwant Batra, a noted journalist, former tennis player,and coach. During a Davis Cup tie between Spain and India at the R.K. KhannaTennis Stadium in Delhi in 2018, Batra highlighted a physical differencebetween Indian and Western players. He published a picture comparing the legsizes of players from both teams, suggesting that Indian players generally hadweaker legs compared to their Western counterparts.
This observationsparked a debate about the role of physical attributes in determining successin singles tennis. Batra's analysis brought attention to the potential impactof genetic and physiological factors on tennis performance, a topic that hadoften been overlooked in discussions about Indian tennis.
The physical demands ofsingles tennis are indeed significantly different from those of doubles.Singles requires greater endurance, speed, and explosive power, as players mustcover the entire court on their own. The serve, which is a crucial weapon inmodern tennis, also demands significant leg strength to generate power andconsistency. If Indian players indeed have a physical disadvantage in terms ofleg strength, as suggested by Batra, it could partially explain the strugglesin singles competition. This theory aligns with observations that Indianplayers often struggle in long, grueling matches that are common in Grand Slamtournaments.
However, it's importantto note that physical attributes are just one piece of the puzzle. Otherfactors, such as training infrastructure, coaching quality, and exposure tohigh-level competition from a young age, also play crucial roles in developingsuccessful singles players. India has made strides in these areas in recentyears, with improved facilities and more systematic training programs beingimplemented. However, the country still lags behind many Western nations interms of the overall tennis ecosystem. The lack of a robust domestic circuitand limited opportunities for young players to compete internationally havebeen cited as significant hurdles in the development of world-class singlesplayers.
The success in doubles,on the other hand, can be attributed to several factors. Doubles requires differentskills, such as quick reflexes, strategic positioning, and teamwork, whichIndian players have excelled at. The format also allows for specialization,with players able to focus on specific aspects of the game that suit theirstrengths. Additionally, the success of early pioneers like Paes and Bhupathicreated a positive feedback loop, inspiring more players to pursue doubles andproviding valuable mentorship to younger generations. The doubles format alsotends to be less physically demanding over the course of a tournament, whichmay suit Indian players better if they indeed have physical limitations assuggested by Batra.
The cultural andeconomic aspects of tennis in India also play a role in shaping the landscapeof the sport. Tennis is often seen as an elite sport in India, with limitedaccessibility for the majority of the population. This narrows the talent pooland makes it harder to identify and nurture potential singles stars. Incontrast, doubles success has brought recognition and financial rewards,encouraging more players to focus on this format.
Despite thesechallenges, there are signs of progress in Indian singles tennis. Young playerslike Sumit Nagal and Prajnesh Gunneswaran have shown promise, makingappearances in Grand Slam main draws and achieving career-high rankings. Theestablishment of more academies and the increasing number of ITF tournamentsbeing held in India are positive steps towards creating a more conduciveenvironment for singles players. However, bridging the gap to the world's elitewill require a sustained and multi-faceted approach, addressing not onlyphysical training but also mental conditioning, tactical awareness, andexposure to high-level competition.
