■ INTERVIEW/PARADORN SRICHAPHAN ‘It is good to have some easy matches early’ K. KEERTHIVASAN

ROM being a journeyman in 2001 to the position of main thing is that I believe we are doing well. The Asian F a top-ranked Asian player in the world (14 in the culture is such that the youngsters always respect their ATP list), it has been a fairytale in the past 12 months elders. He has been a great coach. He is doing two jobs for the 23-year-old Paradorn Srichaphan of . at the same time — coach and dad. Entering the Tata Open through the back door as an ● Your feelings after beating Agassi in Wimbledon and alternate in 2002, Srichaphan exceeded expectations, World No. 1 in the . reaching the final before losing to the top-seed Guiller- One of the main reasons for my good performance mo Canas of Argentina. Displaying excellent on-court has been the fact that I have been playing so many demeanour and the now familiar Namaste gesture, he matches. Playing every week against good players also has captured the hearts and minds of both young and helped me. I know I can play well against them. I just go old alike. and try to have fun. Defeating Agassi was a great mo- By the time, the 2003 Tata Open came, the curricu- ment, especially on Centre Court. I did not expect to lum vitae of Srichaphan made one sit up and take no- win, but I just looked forward to play and did not feel tice. With two ATP titles, and having beaten the likes of nervous. I slept well and everything was normal. I have and Lleyton Hewitt, the Thai sensation played Hewitt on a few occasions. All the three matches emerged as the toast of the whole world. It has been an I lost to him before the Japan Open were close. And in amazing rise for the Thai. All the successes have been the Japan Open, I picked up the threads, knowing pretty partly due to the efforts of his 59-year-old father cum coach, Chanachai Srichaphan. Not losing a set throughout to win the 2003 Tata Open in , Srichaphan showed that here is a player, who has the talent and the physical fitness to take on the best in the world. Surprisingly, all the ad- ulation and encomiums have not gone to his head so far. Be it talking to the media or dealing with his fans, the Thai has shown the maturity and humility that make a top player and a good human being. His motto: “Even when you are successful, don’t forget yourself. Think that it has just started. Every time you do well, you have to think that this is just the beginning.” The first Asian player after Vijay Amritraj to enter the top 20, and the first Asian to win an ATP title after Leander Paes, Srichaphan took time off to speak to The Sportstar during the Tata Open. Excerpts from the interview: Question: When you look back, the year 2002 has been a very successful one for you. What have been the reasons for the success? Answer: I think I have been working very hard on my physical fitness. As I have been on the tour for a couple of years, I am trying to learn from my oppo- nents, how they are playing and what their weaknesses are. I keep analysing my opponents’ game and attack in a way that is not to their liking. It is really difficult to believe all this has happened — that I have come this far, reaching the top 20 in four years. ● What is the role of your father Chanachai Srichaphan? He is my first coach. He is doing a good job and the

76 The Sportstar January 25, 2003 well that I have lost to him three times, and devised ● Is in Thailand picking up after your success? ways to defeat him. Everything about tennis has changed; more parents ● You are a staunch Buddhist. How far do you think are bringing their kids to the courts. I cannot believe it prayers help sportsmen in their careers? — all the courts are fully booked (whole day, whole It helps a lot. It is all about the personality. Each one week). Tennis racquets and balls are selling well. It is is different. On court I look aggressive but I am calm. getting better especially in Thailand. I hope it gets better That is the key that makes me play well. I can easily in the whole of Asia too. control myself and concentrate better. ● Your view on the Chennai crowd which rooted for ● What do you have to say about the opportunities and you. the challenges facing Asian players? It is great to have a lot of people supporting you If they are good enough, they have to break through during play. I am an Asian and playing in India, so it is some time. They should not be content playing in Asia. normal that I will have full support. I hope there are They have to play the Futures and Challengers in the some more Asian players coming in. United States to face stronger competition and to get ● What is your daily routine? better. I would say that the problem lies with the style of I practise, take enough rest, and sleep well. Sleeping play. I could volley, and stay at the back of the court the is very important. If you do not get enough sleep, you whole day. The Indian players need that if they have to will not have the energy to move your body. At least succeed. I saw a lot of Indians, they are hitting the ball eight hours of sleep is a must. It is all about doing well, but they keep making easy mistakes. It has hap- normal things well. Concentrate during practice, and pened to me before. You have to improve on that. Ev- try to feel that you are in a match. erything has to come into place at the same time. ● Who is your role model? Physically, you have to be strong. If you are strong, you I would say Michael Chang because he is an Asian. I can stay all day on court. Also, sponsorship is really look up to him. He is not a tall guy, but could run and important to support a player, because you use a lot of put every ball into court. He has got strong legs. He money travelling, especially in the beginning. And at could stay in a match for a long, long time. If you have the same time, the player has to do well to prove that he more power, and if you have good fitness, you can do it. deserves the money spent on him. And then the sponsor If Chang could do it, somebody is going to do it likewise. is going to put in everything for him. ● How was the feeling after winning your maiden ATP title at Long Island? If you have the first one, there is always the second one. It is going to keep coming, hopefully. But the first one is always difficult. The week before the Long Island (August 2002) event I played in the final at Washing- ton. I tried to win my first title there but of the U.S. played well and I lost to him in three sets. Next, I played in Long Island where I didn’t expect to win against of Argentina in the final. I tried hard to win and it just happened. Then I played in , reached the final and felt like I was in the first round. I have been playing the final so many times. In a way I’ve got used to it. The titles taught me that it is good to have some easy matches early in the tourna- ment. It feels great that I am making a name in tennis, especially for Asian tennis, winning two titles (three including the Tata Open). ● What is in store for you in 2003? It looks great from now. I don’t have anything to defend right now. If I could do well, it could be another great year. ● Any Grand Slams for which you have a special feeling? To pick one to do well, I’ll say Wimbledon. It is the oldest of the Grand Slams. There is a lot of history there. If I can win Wimbledon… At the moment, I know it is really difficult. I am training more towards hardcourts such as the U.S. Open. ■ “Even when you are successful, don’t forget yourself. Think that it has just started. Every time you do well, you have to think that this is just the beginning,” is Paradorn Srichaphan’s motto. — Pics. V. Ganesan

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