S a professional player in the post-modern era of the 80s and the 90s, he is an anachro- nist. John McEnroe, who always believed in calling the pits the pits and the peak the peak, de- scribed him as a "relic of the game." But in an age of pile driver forehands, wide-bodied racquets j and 14()mph serves, relics such as are an en- dangered species. In the cut and thrust of hard competition in a dollar rich world, very few would care to appreciate either the an- tiquity of relics or their timeless charm — charm such as Ramesh's fluid, effortless style represents. Yet, remarkably enough, through a dozen years when the game has steadily revolted against his very style and has galloped so far away as to make his game look hopelessly outdated. Ramesh has not only survived in the pro game but has also found consider- able success in major events such as the Grand Slams and the . For 11 years, starting in 1980. Ramesh finished in the top 100 and in four of those years he ended up in the top 50, reaching a career high of 2 3 in January 198 5. It was only last year, when he was troubled by poor form and injuries, that Ramesh dropped out of the top 100. He did not win a single title in 1991 — his last title win came in Schenectady in Au- gust 1990 — and suffered several first round losses before the ankle injury on the eve of the Wimbledon championship added to the gloom. However, in his 15th year as a profes- sional, Ramesh seems ready to make a seri- ous attempt at regaining a top-100 spot. He says he is looking for one more good run near the home bend, as it were. A final charge, perhaps. And he seems to be playing well enough — from the evidence of a few good victories on the circuit this year and from his form during the -Indonesia Davis Cup tie at Jakarta recently — to be able to do that. Of course, for someone who will be 31 on June 5, and who is a father of two lovely daughters — Gayathri and Nanditha — it is not going to be possible to go through the grind week in and week out, 52 weeks a year. Now, Ramesh's priorities are the events and the Davis Cup. and spend-

22 The Sportstar, May 30, 1992* amesh Krishnan is nearly 31 and is in his 15th year as a professional. He enjoyed a career high ranking of 23 in world tennis in January 1985, but has now dropped out of the top 100, owing to a very bad 1991. Ramesh's priorities now are the Grand Slam events and the Davis Cup, and spending as much time as possible with his family. NIRMAL SHEKAR interviewed the Indian star in Madras a fortnight ago.

The Sportstar, May 30, 1992 23 i ankle injury during last year's Wimbledon affected me for the rest of the year. I played a few matches in Sao Paulo, but I was still not in good condition. In a way, I am starting afresh again. And top 100 would be a nice goal, really. The important thing for me is to be able to play Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.

24 The Sportstar, May 30, 1992 ing as much time as possible with his family, world No. 1 would not have had much his wife Priya and the daughters. trouble against such lowly ranked players. I To be sure, it is a bit of a jugglery — rec- don't think the same thing happened to onciling family life with the demands of the Jimmy Connors or Bjorn Borg. From this ATP Tour. But Ramesh has successfully point of view, the No. 200 or 250 player of juggled for a few years now and he knows today is certainly better than the No. 200 or the end is not far away and that he has to 2 50 of 12 or 15 years ago. put in his best through the last few years as Q: After watching you in the Davis Cup tie a professional player. And he is prepared to in Jakarta, it seems to me that your playing do just that. form has improved from last year. Is your After the Jakarta tie, Ramesh spent a few immediate goal now to get back into the top days in Madras with his parents before 100 as quickly as you can? leaving for Florida to train, ahead of the A: The ankle injury during last year's season in England. During his Wimbledon (he withdrew from the champ- stay in Madras, Ramesh found time to talk ionship before his opening round match about his career, his goals, his plans for life- against Richard Krajicek) affected me for the after-tennis and a variety of other issues to rest of the year. I played a few matches in The Sportstar. Sao Paulo (Davis Cup) but I was still not in Excerpts from the interview: good condition. In a way, I am starting Question: For the first time in more than afresh again. And top 100 would be a nice 10 years, your ranking dropped out of the goal, really. The important thing for me is to top 150 last year. How do you find the ex- be able to play yVimbledon and the U.S. perience of having to qualify for the main Open. I enjoy playing there. And qualifying ATP Tour events and playing in Challengers? is no fun — doing it week in and week out. Answer: In the early part of the year it But I think, realistically, you have to give was a little frustrating. But I still find that I yourself enough time to reach goals. You enjoy playing. Anyway, last year I knew this can't rush it. was coming when I took a long break. In a Q: You will be 31 in a few weeks. What way, I feel if I can go through it I'll come out are your career goals now? What is left for the better for it. The other thing is, what is you in the game? the alternative? A: I would like to have one more run of But I must say I've seen the other side too matches. I feel, at this point of time, that I — landing up on a Sunday and playing the have played many years of tennis and it may main draw straight. You take small, small not be possible for me to compete week after things for granted. But now the new situ- week with the youngsters. But I still feel I ation has made me appreciate things a lot have some tennis left in me. All I want to do more. is to cut down on my travelling. But then, Q: As a teenager, you didn't have to spend it's a fine line. You can't afford to play too much time in the Satellite and Challenger little either. circuit before making it to the top. Do you Q: Looking back at your career, are you think the competition is much tougher for satisfied with what you've done — twice today's youngsters? quarterfinalist at the U.S. Open, once at A: There are more people playing the Wimbledon, key member of the team that game today. I mean, more players are rank- made the Davis Cup final in 1987? Or, are ed now than ever before. Then again, most there any regrets? of the top players — guys like Michael A: If I look at tennis, guys like Borg, Chang, Boris Becker and many others — Connors and McEnroe... they are the real never spent much time in the Satellite and champions. I don't think I was in their Challenger circuit. In my case. I played four league. But I feel I have had some kind of or five tournaments in 1979 and I was rank- success in the majors. I definitely feel I could ed 120 or something. But in 1978 I did play have done better. But I am not going to a few Satellite events. brood over this. I am fortunate to have had Now, after all these years, it is difficult for the opportunities that I had and I am thank- me to analyse if the circuit (Challenger and ful for it. Satellite) is tougher these days and if I can Q: What do you see as the high points of do the same thing if I were a youngster your career? What single thing has given breaking in today. All I can say is that, if you the most happiness? you are good you'll make it. This is the same A: Without doubt it is the Davis Cup final. in any era. The victory over in the Q: If I may rephrase that question and semifinal against Australia was a high point. look at it from another angle how would In my wildest dreams I didn't think I'd be you compare the No. 200 player of the late playing in a Davis Cup final. But in terms of 70s with the one ranked at the same num- a single match victory, I think I will remem- ber today? ber the Masur match best. A: Well, earlier this year, Q: Watching you' play doubles in Davis (then No. 1) lost to Robby Weis who was Cup in the recent times, it looks as if you ranked 280 or something at the Lipton inter- have missed out a bit in not playing doubles national. In the Davis Cup, Kdberg lost to on the circuit. Will be be a matter of regret Nestor of Canada, who is also a lowly ranked after your playing days? player. All I can say is, 10-15 years ago, the A: I agree I should have played more

The Sportstar, May 30, 1992 25 doubles. But I am not going to regret it. Ft is to play with 24-year-olds. Another thing is, one of those things. I was not pushy enough, there is a whole generation now brought up I guess. I didn't go out of my way to find a on hard courts. Hard court (all kinds syn- partner. As for Davis Cup, it is a lot easier to thetic hard courts) is not a surface that helps play only the two singles matches but F have finesse that much. No chips, no. dinks, no enjoyed playing doubles. lobs. You basically have to keep the ball Q: Of all the top players you have played deep. is a good example — and seen for over a dozen years on the cir- take a good swing at it each time. cuit, who would you rate 1) the toughest to Q: To arrest this trend, is it right to tamper play, 2) the best and 3) the most talented? with the basic laws of the game? me, playing A: For me, playing Lendl was the tough- A: I don't think what they are contemplat- Lend! was the est. He didn't give me much of a chance. He ing vis a vis the let rule is such a good idea. had too much power, both on serve and in The game won't be better if they did that. toughest. He his groundstrokes. I have never played That's not the problem, really. I think the didn't give me Becker but Lendl always pinned me back ruling body did not have the foresight to see much of a even on my serves. The best player, for me, what they were letting in when the new in terms of results, will be Bjorn Borg. And racquets were allowed. They should have chance. He had the most talented, no doubt, is John McKn- stuck to the wooden racquets. too much roe. I still remember the 1981 U.S. Open Q: The advent of the powerful new quarterfinal against him when I led by a set racquets.... do you see this as something that power, both on and was up a break in the second. Looking has hastened your drop in rankings. A touch serve and in his back, that was the closest I came to making player like you is liable to be blown off the groundstrokes. I a Grand Slam semifinal. court by a power merchant, no matter your Q: There is so much talk everywhere, in- sublime skills. have never cluding in the ITF and ATP council rooms, A: I was happy with the wooden racquets played Becker, about power tennis these days. And one of for a long time. I've not tested all the equip- but Lendl always the top exponents of the power game (Jim ment as much as the others. 1 was one of the Courier) is ranked No. 1. Where do you last to switch. But a racquet can help only so pinned me think the game is headed — more and more much. But I won't put down my drop in back, even on power? rankings entirely to the advent of powerful my serves. A: Two things have happened. The equip- racquets. I did quite a bit with the new ment has changed. Younger players have a racquets. great advantage. At 1 5 or 1 6, they are able Anyway, if you look at the top players to-

26' The Sportstar, May 30, 1992 day, not many are playing with the wide Do you see this as a period of transition? bodied stuff. But now a whole generation A: In a way it is not good. From the In- has grown up on wide bodies and when they dian point of view. Wimbledon is the high- take over they'll bring a new set of strokes light. This is definitely not good. We guys — no drops and lobs surely. have to set an example for the kids. Now it's Q: At Wimbledon this year, if your request up to Leander. If he can go on playing Wim- for a wild card is turned down, you may bledon for 10-12 years, then you can look have to qualify. and Zeeshan back and say 'Okay, that was a period of Ali will also be in the qualifying event. This transition.' is the first time in many, many years that no Q: What needs to be done in Indian ten- Indian is in the main draw (last year, Ra- nis? Is the All India Tennis Association doing mesh was in the main draw before pulling enough? out). What does this say about Indian tennis. A: We don't have the infrastructure to

vashappy with the wooden racquets for a long time. I've not tested all the equipment as much as the others. I was one of the last to switch. But a racquet can help only so much. I won't put down my drop in rankings entirely to the advent of powerful racquets. I did quite a bit with the new racquets.

The Sportstar, May 30, 1992 27 and other things with one of most accom- plished players in the game A: I think most Indian players are very good in the fundamentals of the game. Coaching in India has no problem here. What we lack is the physical aspect. As for me, it was my grandfather (the late T. K. Ramanathan) who coached me in the early years. He was very good in the fundamentals of the game. At different stages of my career, my father saw the next step and helped me a great deal. Being his son was a letter of in- troduction everywhere. And I must say, looking back, he made the right moves for me. Q: Talking of your father, how would you compare yourself with him as a player? A: It is difficult to compare players of dif- ferent eras. But surely he had many more wins over the top players of his time than I have had in my time. Q: What is the toughest part of being a pro past age 30? Is it the travelling or the training, or a bit of both? A: I think the toughest part is staying away from the family for a long time. This is the difficult part. You realise you have to or- ganise yourself better. When you are young, tennis is the only thing and you can hang around the courts for any number of hours. But now you don't want to waste much time. Also, when you are over 30, you often play within yourself — you don't want to get injured. You fear injuries much more. When you are young, you think you are indestructible. Q: Tough as the circuit is for someone over 30, you find yourself committed to Davis Cup too. How much longer will you commit yourself to playing for India? support everybody who is playing. Unlike the A: Well, as of now, I'm definitely playing West where everyone gets enough court in September (against Britain in India). Next time, we don't have enough courts. We have year also I'd like to play. But beyond that.... I to pick a few players from each centre and don't want to look that far ahead right now. give them all the opportunities. Tennis is a Q: You have been playing on the same n you are sport based in the cities and we have to give team as Leander Paes for more than a year young, tennis is the best players among the youngsters all now. Have you noticed any improvements in the only thing that they need. As for the AITA's role, I his game since you first started playing with don't know what their schemes are. So I him against Indonesia at Jaipur last year? and you can cannot comment. A: He has certainly improved. But I have hang around Q: At the end of the day, how do you see not seen too many of his matches. I thought the courts for yourself contributing to Indian tennis, if at he played a good 5th match against South all. The bane of Indian tennis is that there Korea (at Delhi) last year. But in doubles. I any number of are very few people with international ex- think we have done well together. I feel we hours. But now perience to work with the kids. complement each other well. What I lack he you don't want A: I don't want to put any labels on it (vis has and what he lacks I have. a vis roles). But I'd definitely like to help Q: Where is Leander now as a pro? What to waste much youngsters, spend time with them, give them does he need to do to break into the top time. Also, when directions. Something like a coaching school 100? will tie me down too much. I can't cut my- A: He needs to get a lot more consistent. you are over 30, self off from the outside world completely. He is not a big server but given his style he you often play But the time that I spend in India I'd like to has to win his points at the net. The crux of within yourself — be involved in tennis. And Madras will cer- his problem is, how he is going to get to the tainly be my base because I want my elder net. He has to find the right combination. you don't want daughter (Gayathri, aged 3) to start going to Q: Once your playing days are over, will to get injured. school here. you consider becoming India's Davis Cup You fear injuries Q: While on the subject of coaching, how captain, if the job were to be offered to you? big an advantage was it for you, being the A: Certainly, yes. That will be nice. It will much more. son of ? After all, not be a nice way to stay in touch with the every kid will be able to check on technique game and do something for Indian tennis. •

28 The Sportstar, May 30, 1992