Yuki appeals for more support

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Just a day after Leander Paes questioned the quality of young Indian tennis players, teenager Yuki Bhambri promptly answered the stalwart when he pulled off a stunning victory over Karol Beck of Slovakia on the opening day of the Chennai Open tennis tournament.

With the clinical win over the former top-40 player, the Delhi youngster and wildcard entrant proved it was all about getting the opportunity. Monday’s match was the 19-year-old’s only fifth appearance on the Tour.

Paes had earlier said “not much was seen of Yuki who was once ranked No.1 among juniors following his success at the Australian Open.”

Not just Paes, the entire tennis fraternity sat on the sidelines to cheer on Yuki, who showed tremendous maturity in disposing off the seasoned player in just 80 minutes.

Yuki wouldn’t have got a better opportunity than this to voice his views. “I feel that the financial support is totally lacking for young tennis players in India. You see the top guys travelling with not just the coaches but the trainer as well.

It is a necessity on the circuit today as you are playing two, three hours a day. Playing about 50 or 60 matches in a year takes a great toll on you, physically.

So, you need somebody out there to help you out. It is one of the biggest drawbacks that we have in this country. I hope that people will notice tennis players too,” said Yuki, whose sisters Ankita and Sanaa have also represented the country in various international events.

Yuki has set a target of qualifying for the French Open and Wimbledon in 2012. “First, I want to be in top-250 which will help me compete in the qualifiers of the grand slams,” added the current world No. 345.

Fitness has been a major concern for Yuki who often looked groggy when matches went down to the wire in Futures and Challenger events. Yuki said he has been putting extra efforts to improve his fitness and stay injury-free.

“I have been feeling great and I think I would have won the match against Beck even it had gone to the third set,” said Yuki, who is managed by IMG and trains at the Bollettieri Academy in Florida.