Saketh Myneni has shown plenty of consistency over the recent months, and it is that ‘consistency’ which has been a big factor in the gangling Indian tennis player’s rapid forward strides on the court. The 28-year-old, who recently broke into the top-150 in the ATP world rankings, spoke about his game and much more in an exclusive interview.
Excerpts:
Q. You recently broke into the top-150 in the ATP world rankings following a string of consistent performances in recent times. What would you attribute to your recent successful run?
I’m really enjoying the way I’m playing and that has been a big factor in my recent on-court successes. Fortunately, I have managed to stay injury-free and strived to be consistent as possible and it has worked well for me.
Q. It’s been a long time since an Indian player had broken into the top-50 in men’s singles. Your thoughts.
Getting into the top-50 is hugely challenging – it’s not about just breaking into the top-50 but also about staying consistent and remaining there. Me, Yuki Bhambri, Ramkumar Ramanathan, Somdev Devvarman and all others are all giving their best. Of course, injuries have haunted the Indian players a lot but I’m sure all of us are keyed up to go up the ranking ladder.
Q. You had reached the final of the Delhi Open, where you lost to France’s Stéphane Robert.
I had a pretty decent run at the Delhi Open and played some very good tennis against tough opponents. One of them was upsetting second-seeded Kimmer Coppejans of Belgium – a guy I defeated in the second round of the 2014 Indore Open, which was my first Challenger singles triumph.
Q. You are 28 – do you think you are at the peak of your powers now?
Look, I took professional tennis quite late after completing my education at 24 – it’s been four years for me on the circuit. So I think I’m playing well at the moment and want to keep it going.
Q. You had bagged gold and silver medals in mixed doubles and men’s doubles at the 2014 Asian Games.
I always enjoy taking part in team events. Representing my country at the Asiad was a big moment for me and I really cherish winning two medals for India.
Q. You play in singles and doubles as well – how do you cope with such a workload?
I’m a tennis player and should be ready to play in all formats. But yes, playing singles and doubles takes a lot of you, especially if you reach the business end of tournaments. Playing doubles helps you to sharpen your game.
Q. How do you assess the talents coming through the junior ranks in India?
The kind of talent I see among the current crop of youngsters is the same as before but the exposure part is better that what I used to see when I was coming through the junior ranks. I’m pretty optimistic about the future.
Q. Tell us a bit about your family?
I’m the only kid in the family – my parents are based in Vizag – my dad works in an administration department of a private hospital while my mom is a housewife.
