India’s non-playing Davis Cup captain Rohit Rajpal has clarified his controversial “shut-up” remark, stating that it was directed at a few “agenda-driven” individuals targeting him, not the entire tennis community.
Rajpal, who took over as captain in 2019, has faced criticism over his credentials, having played only one Davis Cup tie in his career. However, he maintains that his experience as a player and his dedication to Indian tennis qualify him for the role.
“Whether I deserve to be there or not is not a decision I would like to justify,” Rajpal said. “That is in the hands of the Executive Committee, which is supreme.”
Rajpal emphasized that he is not clinging to the position and would step down if he felt his players or the tennis community lost confidence in him.
“The day I feel that my players feel somebody else will do a better job, I am the first one to walk out myself,” he said.
Rajpal also addressed his lack of playing experience, acknowledging that he was a “perfect example of what not to do” as a player. He overtrained and suffered injuries that cut short his career.
“I had one bad habit when I look back, which cost me my career, which was getting up at 5 in the morning and running 20 kilometers on the road,” Rajpal said. “I did not know when to stop.”
Despite his limited playing experience, Rajpal believes his dedication and hard work make him a capable captain. He recalled training with top players like Jim Courier and challenging world-class opponents like Wayne Ferreira and Tim Henman.
“I played at a world-class level myself,” Rajpal said. “And nothing, nobody can take that away from me.”
Rajpal expressed frustration over the lack of research and understanding surrounding his credentials. He urged critics to delve deeper into his background before making judgments.
“People don’t research anymore,” Rajpal said. “People don’t look at things in-depth anymore. People look at things only from the surface, right? And which is a sad part.”
