The Hindu : Sport : Patriots eye shift to pro mode

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Thursday, Sep 28, 2006
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Patriots eye shift to pro mode

Nandakumar Marar

Tomas Berdych. — PHOTO: VIVEK BENDRE

MUMBAI: Tennis patriots, flying into Mumbai after fulfilling Davis Cup commitments in different parts of the world, will slip into the role of a pro at the Kingfisher Airlines Tennis Open.

Dmitry Tursunov arrived from Moscow after the high of Russia's 3-1 win over the United States, his personal input being the crucial win over Andy Roddick in the fourth rubber that lasted more than four hours on wet clay.

Tommy Robredo (Spain) and Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic) fall into the same category, looking to switch from patriot to pro mode in no time.

These three have singles reputations to defend in the Mumbai Open, while Berdych's teammate Martin Damm chose to pull out when faced with the problem of adjustment from indoor clay in Holland to the CCI hardcourts.

Do focussed pros look forward to Davis Cup play when national duty is sandwiched between Tour events? Do multiple matches for country disrupt carefully planned ATP preparations? Leander Paes — one such patriot-cum-pro, always ready to crank up his game to epic heights when India's honour is at stake — observes that the switch is par for the course.

Different kettle of fish

"Playing Davis Cup is a different kettle of fish. When you are playing for the nation, there is more responsibility. On the other hand, you are playing for yourself in Tour events, which is your bread and butter," he said.

The Indian's gutsy show on national duty against Goran Ivanisevic and Henri Leconte is not reflected in the Tour circuit. The Olympics bronze medallist is a doubles ace though, now among the world's top 10.

Mario Ancic and Carlos Moya, two elite pros with outstanding Davis Cup records for Croatia and Spain respectively, are proud to don national colours, like Paes has always done.

Ancic refers to Davis Cup as a double-edged sword, the adrenalin of an outstanding show for the nation can have a positive spin-off on the Tour. "At the same time, playing Davis Cup can be exhausting, because there is so much of emotion involved. You feel drained," he confessed.

Overwhelming feeling

However, the Croat values the rewards of being a Davis Cup achiever. "The public reception after returning home as 2005 Davis Cup champion was overwhelming, as if the whole of Croatia was celebrating," said Ancic, who is equally proud of his Athens Olympics doubles bronze medal.

Moya, the former World No. 1, rates the 2004 Davis Cup title as the highest personal achievement. "Winning it was the best thing that happened to me, more than winning a Grand Slam. I guess players look forward to it. I'm passionate about playing for the country," said the Spaniard.

Tursunov, seeded fourth at Mumbai and now an important member of the Russian squad, doesn't know whether he will figure in this year's final.

However, the patriot is also a realist when it comes to Davis Cup slots. Marat Safin and Mikhail Youzhny are others vying for the singles slots. "Playing the Davis Cup final will depend on my performance that week. I wouldn't mind winning the Davis Cup title (for Russia) sitting out than stepping on court after being asked to play and losing," Tursunov added.

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