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Photo: Murali Kumar K.

India abroad Vijay Amritraj

Vijay Amritraj is not just India’s most successful tennis player, but also a multi-faceted legend. Life after an active tennis career has been great for the 54-year-old affable champ from Chennai. Vijay has successfully donned the role of commentator and soon became lead anchor for Grand Slam events. His love for humanity made the former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan to appoint him ‘Messenger of Peace’ in 2001.In an interview to MetroPlus, Vijay spoke about tennis and his other interests. Excerpts from the interview:

If I speak from my generation’s perspective, it has to be the surface. Grass is gone, barring Wimbledon, and slower hard courts dominate.

The best thing that has happened to tennis is the tie-breaker. We now have the electronic Hawkeye which cuts the margin of error. But I hope there is no further change in rules, format or the game. What is your reaction to reports of drug abuse in tennis?

Tell me, in a sport like tennis, where a player has to be in peak condition on the circuit for 10 to 11 months, is it possible to use drugs? It will finish them forever and I don’t think any sane person will do drugs. There may be stray cases, but none of the leading players would be crazy enough to try it.

Let us get this clear. Men’s and women’s tennis are as different as chalk and cheese. When you talk of gender equality, you have to think about the amount of effort that goes into both sides of the gender divide. But again, a Maria Sharapova makes much more money than some of the top male players like in Hollywood where Julia Roberts earns more than Russell Crowe.

I love movies and acting in movies such as “Octopussy” was loads of fun and I wouldn’t mind doing it all over again, if I get an opportunity.

By God’s grace, I have none. I have enjoyed my game and life after tennis and I have donned different roles as Goodwill Ambassador of the U.N. and TV commentator. I thank God for keeping me busy and allowing me to enjoy whatever I am doing.

It was a rewarding experience. I visited places torn by human conflicts and struck by natural calamities like Bosnia and Africa. It helped me understand the other side of life. That’s why we founded the Vijay Amritraj Foundation, an NGO based in the U.S. to raise funds for charity work in India about 15 months ago.

There have been many memorable moments. I not only try to give insights into the game and the players but also get people, who are not really interested, into watching tennis.

Then there are many post-match interviews I enjoyed doing. The most memorable of those was during the Australian Open, when Pete Sampras was at his peak. I had asked Pete which was the most memorable match he had ever watched, and he said: ‘I watched a youngster beat Rod Laver in five sets in the 1973 U.S. Open. It was an amazing match and the youngster was you!’”

I enjoy going to the movies. I can watch a movie a day. I enjoy playing golf and I do get to play a lot of charity golf in the U.S. I like hanging out with my boys and doing charity work.

It is my business and tennis commitments that keep me in Los Angeles and I enjoy my stay there. I love straddling both sides of the world, but every time I come back here, I feel all charged up, this is where I was born and had the best of my growing up years.

I still hold an Indian passport and wherever I am, none can take away that Indianness in me.

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