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We’ve heard a million times already that the Champions Tennis League, or the CTL, has the potential to create a tennis revolution in India. But how exactly will that revolution come about?
The presence of the international stars is a definite crowd puller, and that’s probably the first push that is needed to bring change. But the league’s true victory could come through the development of tennis at the grassroots level across the nation.
Here are five ways the CTL can do just that:
1. Greater exposure for local talent
Tennis in India is generally well received. However, apart from Leander Paes’ bronze medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, India hasn’t done much of note on the international stage. Indian tennis players get a great deal of exposure when they travel during the ATP and WTA tours, but with all the focus on the match play and day-to-day results, they get very little time to learn from their international counterparts.
But during the course of the CTL, the Indians, especially the two junior players in every team, will have the opportunity to learn a lot from international stars and the legends of the game. The vast experience of the legends is bound to rub off on the youngsters while they play and travel alongside them. Even outside the tennis court, spending time with the stars will help the local players learn several “trade secrets” of the sport.
2. Manifold increase in tennis’ popularity
Leaving aside the Grand Slams and a few other tournaments here and there, tennis in India is often overshadowed by sports such as cricket and football. But at the CTL, with India hosting Grand Slam winners and legends, the attention for the sport has already taken a quantum leap.
On the television front, Indian tennis fans are often victims of time conflicts with matches taking place at odd times during the night. The CTL will change all that, giving Indians the chance to see high quality tennis during prime hours. The presence of the stars and the access to the sport will likely help the popularity of the sport to skyrocket.
3. Recognition for Indian players
The CTL features some of the best Indian players including Leander Paes, Somdev Devvarman, Sanam Singh and Saketh Myneni. These four players have all won gold medals at the Asian Games and they represent the best of Indian tennis.
Despite their achievements, however, Indian tennis players are often overlooked and are only briefly celebrated when they win something big. The CTL will give these players the recognition they deserve. For these stars, as well as the 12 junior Indian players, the CTL will be the perfect platform to showcase their talent to the country’s audience.
The Indian tennis fans look up to stars such as Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. It is time they have an Indian name added to that list.
4. Inspiration for young Indian children
Every child growing up in the 1990s dreamt of becoming a cricketer, thanks mainly to the strength of the Indian team and a certain individual named Sachin Tendulkar. But things are changing now; the country has expanded its wings to several other sports, including tennis. And the CTL will help further accelerate that diversification.
The young aspiring tennis players will get to see their heroes in action. But more importantly, they will also get to see junior tennis players who are only a few years older than them. The greatest pull for children to take up the sport is the belief that success can be achieved even at a junior level. The CTL has played a masterstroke, not just by catching the attention of potential tennis stars but also inspiring them to act on their dreams.
5. Financial benefits for the sport
Money is a crucial factor in the governance and development of any sport. Now in India, a lot of people believe that unless you reach the highest level, you cannot play tennis professionally. And those concerns are valid to some extent, given that tennis is an expensive sport.
The CTL is the best possible thing that could have happened for Indian tennis to grow. Results are not achieved overnight, but the league has already taken several giant leaps towards starting the revolution.
Originally published on the Champions Tennis League website here.
