Indian Tennis: A Cycle of Ups and Downs
Indian tennis legend Leander Paes has expressed concern over the recent decline in the sport’s popularity in the country. Following India’s 0-4 defeat to Sweden in the Davis Cup World Group I tie, Paes emphasized the need for patience and highlighted the cyclical nature of success and setbacks.
“Like anything in life, when you go up, you have to come down, and then you come back up again,” said Paes, a former world No. 1 in doubles. “I am a big believer in the circle of life.”
Paes acknowledged the significant growth of tennis in India over the past four decades, attributing its rise to the success of players like Sania Mirza, Mahesh Bhupathi, Rohan Bopanna, and himself. However, he noted that the current situation, with no Indian players in the top 200 of the WTA rankings and only one in the top 100 of the ATP rankings, reflects a period of decline.
“We have all enjoyed such an upswing over the last 40 years, proving that we can be number one in both women’s doubles and men’s doubles,” said Paes. “But now we need to have a little bit of patience.”
Paes emphasized the importance of investing in grassroots development and providing opportunities for young players to excel. He also called for a collective effort from all stakeholders, including players, coaches, and administrators, to revive the sport’s fortunes.
“The circle of life is playing out,” said Paes. “We will experience a slump, but we will rise again. The greatest key to success is patience. I have no doubt that tennis will rise again to the top in India.”
