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Mini Wimbledon at RTC Crossroad
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When legends dropped and volleyed in the heart of the city
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TENNIS GREATS Former Tennis Champion Roy Emerson of Australia (top) and India's Ramanathan Krishnan (below) have played againts each other in Charminar Chowrasta
Imagine India's tennis legend Ramanathan Krishnan slugging it out with Wimbledon champion Roy Emerson of Australia in Charminar Chowrasta (RTC Crossroads)?
"What nonsense? Don't give us that." This is how anyone from the younger generation is quite likely to react.
Believe it or not. It is true. Yes. The two tennis greats did play against each other here. Several other tennis celebrities - Bill Tilden, Henri Cochet, Ashley Cooper, Alex Olmedo, all Wimbledon champions, Mal Anderson, Andres Gemino, Barry Mackay, and so on - also played at Mehdi Jung stadium, a popular stadium situated near what was better known then as Charminar Chowrasta. The stadium, built by Mehdi Jung, a diehard tennis enthusiast and member of the ruling aristrocracy, was demolished in the early 60s to accommodate city's burgeoning demand for space.
Smuggled into the press box by an obliging relative, this writer, then in teens, saw the `touch artist' giving the Australian run for money. Emerson was frequently outfoxed by Krishnan's drop shots. If memory serves right, Emerson, who went on to win the Wimbledon twice and collect a record grand slam titles , prevailed because of better speed and stamina. That was in early 1962.
It was also a sporting feast for the Hyderabadis to see other world class players like Cooper , Olmedo , Mal Anderson, one of the best doubles players, Spaniard Gemino and American McKay in action around the same time. The stadium was located where the Musheerabad telephone exchange stands today. It was constructed in 1937 by Nawab Mehdi Jung and the court was modelled after the famous `No. 1 court' at Wimbledon. Old timers say that the stadium also hosted a number of wrestling tournaments. Big names like Dara Singh and King Kong participated in the freestyle wrestling bouts at the stadium.
DASU KESAVA RAO
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