The Hindu : Sport / Tennis : ‘I have matured as a player’

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 20, 2007
ePaper

Sport

Sport - Tennis

‘I have matured as a player’

Special Correspondent

Somdev Dev Varman.

NEW DELHI: When Prakash Amritraj and company were enduring the heat and humidity of north India in recent weeks in pursuit of ATP points and respectable world rankings, one of the best hopefuls of Indian men’s tennis has been happily holidaying back home in the North East.

Rightly so, for Somdev Dev Varman had accomplished what no other Indian had managed in the 125-year history of NCAA when he captured the singles title in Division I last month.

This was an even bigger jump for Indian tennis than Mahesh Bhupathi’s doubles triumph with Ali Hamadeh in 1995 in the intensely competitive American college circuit.

The 22-year-old Dev Varman, who had made his mark and underlined his potential when he won an ITF Futures event on clay back home in March 2004, said that he was happy with his choice of going to the University of Virginia, in his quest for a solid foundation for professional tennis.

“I think it is a good accomplishment. I had lost the final last year as a sophomore, and it was great to win the title this time though I didn’t break serve even once in the final,” said Dev Varman, who had beaten John Isner of Georgia 7-6(7), 4-6, 7-6(2) in the final, winding up the contest in style with an ace.

In doing so, Dev Varman joined an impressive list of champions that includes Charlie Pasarell, Stan Smith, Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, Kevin Curren, Tim Mayotte and Mikael Pernfors.

Great support system

“I go back to school for one more year. Once I graduate, I will have a great support system to play the professional circuit. I hope to break into the top-150. Players like Benjamin Becker who won the NCAA in 2004 have already reached the top-100.

There are a whole lot of players who have become top-50. So, I am confident that I would become one of the better players from India, said Dev Varman, a student of sociology, talking to The Hindu from Agartala.

Dev Varman has not visited home in three years, except briefly last year for competing in the qualifying event of the Chennai Open.

“I have matured a lot as a player and I have learnt to compete hard. I serve better, and I have become stronger and quicker. I have to work on my weakness and improve the strengths. There is no limit to development,” said Dev Varman. He was called for Davis Cup duty twice this year but could not join the team.

A visa problem at the New York airport, though he had valid documents, had stopped him from reaching Uzbekistan for the Davis Cup tie in February. “I was disappointed, but it was one of those things where nobody could be blamed. I took it in my stride,” said Somdev.

He was once again called for the tie against Kazakhstan in April, but Dev Varman politely refused the offer as he had commitments to honour both towards his studies and tennis in college.

“It was just bad timing, and I couldn’t help it. There is no question that I am keen to represent the country in Davis Cup. It is so much bigger than anything else. I have followed the contributions of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi. I will be honoured to step up and be the guy who does their role,” he said.

With his quick feet and clarity of thought, there is no doubt that Somdev Dev Varman will make bigger strides in international tennis soon.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport