Lawn Tennis, not India's cup of tea?

Roger Federer. He is one of my favorite sports person. He has so much energy and confidence that is evident when he plays on court, when he talks in Press Conferences or when he is holding the Winners Trophy (More often that not). Lets not forget he plays a sport which requires a lot of stamina and practice.

I have always been fascinated by this sport. I used to follow Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras when I was young. But I have always felt Federer is the best of them all. And the data suggests that too. He already has all four Grand Slams at his Trophy Desk which is a rare achievement. With so many good and younger players around, its amazing to see him dominate the sport for such a long period of time. It is an absolute treat to watch Nadal and Federer in a Final of a Grand Slam. The way they play their tennis is extraordinary. I would like to see an Indian playing the way they do or may be even better.

However when we see Indian players struggling on court, I feel the importance of fitness and stamina is still overlooked. There is a lot of raw talent which needs to be trained and made match fit. While watching the US Open this year, one of the commentators said, if you are thinking to win a Grand Slam title, you need to be fit enough to play 35 Sets (A player plays 7 rounds, considering he plays 5 Set in each match). I also got a chance to see few matches of Leander Paes who is an amazing Doubles player. I can recall an incident of Mixed Doubles where the opposition girl was able to hit Aces when Leander had to return the serve which can be quite an embarrassment at times.

I know comparisons can be harsh at times. But when you see Sania Mirza playing with Kim Clitzers (US Open 2009 Winner) who recently returned to court after having a baby, the gulf appears even wider. Sports needs to be taken seriously in order to succeed at a higher level. I think we have the talent and potential to produce Federers and Nadals, if we can support the talent with fitness and stamina.