Interview with Purav Raja - "Wimbledon experience went from one of the best moments of my career to one of the lows"

27-year-olds Purav Raja (R) and Divij Sharan (L) are through to their first ATP level semi-final at the Clara Open in Bogota. (Getty Images)

While Indian tennis has been synonymous with Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna for a while now, there is a new young Indian partnership that is making its way up the rankings and hoping to be the next Indian Express on the ATP circuit.

27-year-olds Purav Raja and Divij Sharan are through to their first ATP level semi-final in Bogota this week, after beating Nicolas Monroe and Vasek Pospisil 3-6 6-3 10-6 in the quarter-finals on Thursday.

For those unfamiliar with Purav, he has been around the 150 mark in the rankings for the past three years but is now closing in on a spot in the top 100 of the world rankings. Sportskeeda caught up with Purav for a quick interview where he talks about his goals, his career highs and lows and his life off the court.

You are currently ranked no. 115 in the ATP world doubles rankings? Do you have any ranking goals in mind for the next six months?

Yes, as far as ranking goals go, we (Divij and I) hope to be safely inside all Grand Slam main draws by the end of the year, which means we would like to both be inside the top 60.

You have been playing regularly with Divij Sharan of late. Can you tell us what makes your partnership click?

Our partnership is a lefty-righty pair, which gives pairs less rhythm and we are a formidable force at the net. We have a very good rapport off the court and we both are ready to work hard for each other.

What is it going to take for Divij and you to transition from the Challenger circuit to the ATP circuit?

Divij and I will have to keep winning matches on the tour level and have been working on very specific plays on serves and returns in order to help us win those matches. The top guys do the small things just a little better so we are also trying to implement that into our game styles.

Both of you are 27, which makes you sort of a late bloomer by tennis standards. On the other hand, several top doubles players are playing well into their late 30s these days? Do you believe your best is yet to come?

I think tennis players are now peaking a little bit later due to the physical and mental demands of the game. For doubles, I’m certainly very young and I definitely believe my best is yet to come.

Leander Paes (R) with Purav Raja (L) during the Davis cup team practice session at R K Khanna Tennis stadium on January 29, 2013 in New Delhi, India. (Getty Images)

What are your thoughts on Mahesh Bhupathi’s International Players Tennis league?

Mahesh is a good visionary and it is very creditable for him to take on such a mammoth task. Even if it benefits one or a few Indian players, it will definitely be beneficial for Indian tennis. I don’t know enough about the details but it seems like a very well planned model.

Do you reach out to Bhupathi, Paes and Bopanna for any tips/guidance on the doubles game/circuit?

Rohan, Leander and Mahesh are all great players and I definitely look up to them and have the privilege to get their inputs every so often. We often don’t realise how lucky we are as Indians to have 3 top 10 players – which makes us a tennis powerhouse in doubles.

You played your first Davis Cup rubber against Korea earlier this year? Can you talk about the experience of playing for your country?

If I had one wish I would make sure that all Indians have at least one chance to play for their country. It’s a very special emotion and buzz that I wish everyone could experience. Just to play for a billion hearts makes you tremble and nerves is a definite understatement. All in all, it was probably one of the best days of my life.

You and Divij qualified for your first Grand Slam at Wimbledon recently and went down in five sets in the first round. Can you tell us about your experience at Wimbledon? And your thoughts on losing the match after being ahead by two sets to love?

Going from one of the best moments of my career to one of the lows. After qualifying for Wimbledon and being two sets to love up, this was one of those matches we just could not turn around and lost a little rhythm as the match progressed. We could not capitalise on our chances in the final set and unfortunately ended up on the loser’s end. It was one of the best learning experiences and we will try to eliminate it from happening again.

Which is your favourite Grand Slam and why?

I studied in England from a very young age so Wimbledon is my favourite slam as it gives me a very nostalgic feeling.

What do you like doing in your free time, away from tennis?

In my free time, I enjoy watching live sporting events and am a big fan of Liverpool. I also enjoy playing snooker and spending time with my family.

I believe you recently got married. How is life different after marriage?

Life is not so different now although it’s great to have Amisha with me some weeks on the road. She definitely helps in keeping me balanced and gives me that sense of stability and security as the ATP tour can be a very lonely place.

Any regrets on not doing better in the singles game on the professional circuit?

Well, I still play singles whenever I can although the main reason I play tennis is to make a living and play the Grand Slams. This seemed more possible in doubles based on my ranking disparity and was a choice made for me. No regrets at all though.

Tell us one crazy incident from your life on the road in tennis.

I once took a small local flight in a former Soviet Union country to play a challenger in 2010 and was absolutely shocked to see cattle in the same cabin as me flying to our destination on a one hour flight. I was in the fourth or fifth row and happened to look behind to see two sheep on the same flight in the tenth row!