PUNE: If you wish to understand the impact of the pandemic on second rung tennis players, look no further than Vijay Sundar Prashanth.
“Mentally it was demotivating. I didn’t want to train,” said the 34-year-old Tamil Nadu lad, who is now based in the United Kingdom since his marriage two years ago.
Vijay picked up his racquet for the first time after a gap of eight months in March this year when he played in Lucknow, which hosted the first of four ITF men’s events.
The last time he played was in the summer of 2020 when he partnered Divij Sharan in a local circuit organised by the Britain’s Lawn Tennis Association.
“More than the tennis, it was fitness that took a hit. The gyms were shut since the cases were going up. When the lockdown was partially lifted there were time slots, even then only five were allowed (at a time). There were so many complications and again in November it was shut,” he said.
“In Lucknow, it was weird to start after a long time. I was very rusty, no match sharpness.”
Still, he reached the doubles final with Kaza Vinayak Sharma. But in Indore, Pune and New Delhi, he exited in the first round although he had a decent run in singles in Pune where he came through qualifying before losing in the second round.
Since March last year, when he returned to UK from tournament play, Vijay has spent more than 50 days in quarantine at various times over the last 12 months.
“That’s nearly two months of just sitting at home. I don’t want to spend any more time in quarantine,” he said with a wry grin.
The mini-run he had in singles in Pune – where he lost to finalist Zane Khan, a 19-year-old of Indian origin from the US – showcased the potential that could have taken him far with tiny adjustments, mostly tactical.
For such a good doubles player, it was strange to see him so hesitant to come up to the net against opponents who were basically kids and lacked the on-court vision that comes with years of grinding on the circuit.
Vijay said that many a time the gameplan one conceives by watching an opponent from outside was difficult to execute when you face him on the court.
“When you have played for so long, you are exposed to many players and different patterns of play,” he said.
“Even just by watching the sport for so long, you can make observations.
“Zane (Khan) probably didn’t know about me, it was his coach who told him about me.
“I know many players and their game, but executing it is a different thing.
“Whether it is by hours of practice, or is it a mental thing, or be brave enough to do it (in match situation), each player has to figure out his own way.”
The shutdown in 2020 was preceded in 2019 by the ill-conceived restructuring of the men’s tour by the ATP, which was subsequently rolled back but not before it had had a disastrous effect on many careers.
Vijay was one of those to suffer as his ranking nosedived from the high of 193 in doubles and 335 in singles. He is currently 339 in doubles and practically unranked in singles.
Given that playing on the ITF circuit or even ATP Challengers doesn’t help a player make even, it is sheer passion coupled with practical reality that is serving as fuel for Vijay to keep playing.
“It (retirement) definitely came to my mind. It is not easy, one has to build from the bottom on (since the pandemic),” he said.
“But during lock down nothing was open. I couldn’t ask any academy (about coaching opportunities) and the only thing I know is tennis.
“So I decided to see how it goes this year, hang on to this and be confident.”
Vijay derives inspiration from not only the game, but also sound advice from his fraternity.
“When I ask people, they all say that you can start coaching anytime but can only play for a few years,” he said.
“They always tell me ‘just hang on’. They all regret they stopped early. So, whatever the reasons (of difficulty), play. ‘If you want to play, keep playing’.
“Not that they are not enjoying now. They make good money and have a good life.
“But the ambitious person in you, deep inside will feel that you have not given a proper shot.”
A key – or the X – factor that has encouraged Vijay to give it another shot is his wife Sonam.
“My wife supports me a lot, she is keen for me to continue to play,” he said.
“We have had this conversation. She is the one supporting our relationship mentally and financially so that I can take chances with my tennis career.
“I am glad I found her.”
“Mentally it was demotivating. I didn’t want to train,” said the 34-year-old Tamil Nadu lad, who is now based in the United Kingdom since his marriage two years ago.
Vijay picked up his racquet for the first time after a gap of eight months in March this year when he played in Lucknow, which hosted the first of four ITF men’s events.
The last time he played was in the summer of 2020 when he partnered Divij Sharan in a local circuit organised by the Britain’s Lawn Tennis Association.
“More than the tennis, it was fitness that took a hit. The gyms were shut since the cases were going up. When the lockdown was partially lifted there were time slots, even then only five were allowed (at a time). There were so many complications and again in November it was shut,” he said.
“In Lucknow, it was weird to start after a long time. I was very rusty, no match sharpness.”
Still, he reached the doubles final with Kaza Vinayak Sharma. But in Indore, Pune and New Delhi, he exited in the first round although he had a decent run in singles in Pune where he came through qualifying before losing in the second round.
Since March last year, when he returned to UK from tournament play, Vijay has spent more than 50 days in quarantine at various times over the last 12 months.
“That’s nearly two months of just sitting at home. I don’t want to spend any more time in quarantine,” he said with a wry grin.
The mini-run he had in singles in Pune – where he lost to finalist Zane Khan, a 19-year-old of Indian origin from the US – showcased the potential that could have taken him far with tiny adjustments, mostly tactical.
For such a good doubles player, it was strange to see him so hesitant to come up to the net against opponents who were basically kids and lacked the on-court vision that comes with years of grinding on the circuit.
Vijay said that many a time the gameplan one conceives by watching an opponent from outside was difficult to execute when you face him on the court.
“When you have played for so long, you are exposed to many players and different patterns of play,” he said.
“Even just by watching the sport for so long, you can make observations.
“Zane (Khan) probably didn’t know about me, it was his coach who told him about me.
“I know many players and their game, but executing it is a different thing.
“Whether it is by hours of practice, or is it a mental thing, or be brave enough to do it (in match situation), each player has to figure out his own way.”
The shutdown in 2020 was preceded in 2019 by the ill-conceived restructuring of the men’s tour by the ATP, which was subsequently rolled back but not before it had had a disastrous effect on many careers.
Vijay was one of those to suffer as his ranking nosedived from the high of 193 in doubles and 335 in singles. He is currently 339 in doubles and practically unranked in singles.
Given that playing on the ITF circuit or even ATP Challengers doesn’t help a player make even, it is sheer passion coupled with practical reality that is serving as fuel for Vijay to keep playing.
“It (retirement) definitely came to my mind. It is not easy, one has to build from the bottom on (since the pandemic),” he said.
“But during lock down nothing was open. I couldn’t ask any academy (about coaching opportunities) and the only thing I know is tennis.
“So I decided to see how it goes this year, hang on to this and be confident.”
Vijay derives inspiration from not only the game, but also sound advice from his fraternity.
“When I ask people, they all say that you can start coaching anytime but can only play for a few years,” he said.
“They always tell me ‘just hang on’. They all regret they stopped early. So, whatever the reasons (of difficulty), play. ‘If you want to play, keep playing’.
“Not that they are not enjoying now. They make good money and have a good life.
“But the ambitious person in you, deep inside will feel that you have not given a proper shot.”
A key – or the X – factor that has encouraged Vijay to give it another shot is his wife Sonam.
“My wife supports me a lot, she is keen for me to continue to play,” he said.
“We have had this conversation. She is the one supporting our relationship mentally and financially so that I can take chances with my tennis career.
“I am glad I found her.”