Near 43 years have handed since Vijay Amritraj reached his career-high males’s singles rating of 18. The passage of time, nonetheless, has not diminished his enchantment.
Nonetheless dapper at 70, Amritraj was the cynosure of all eyes at an occasion hosted by The Leela Palace right here to honour his induction into the Tennis Corridor of Fame (contributor class). Amritraj held court docket effortlessly along with his pleasant manner and fast wit.
Amritraj will probably be inducted into the Tennis Corridor of Fame at Newport (USA) – a metropolis the place he has received three titles (1976, 1980 and 1984). “The setting in Newport is spectacular. It’s the place the place tennis was born within the USA,” Amritraj mentioned.
Amritraj took a second to recollect his late mother and father – Robert Amritraj and Maggie Dhairyam. “My biggest expertise was being born to the correct mother and father,” he mentioned.
Amritraj praised Rohan Bopanna, who not too long ago claimed the Australian Open males’s doubles title to develop into the oldest man to win a Grand Slam.
“You should have super assist from household, particularly your partner, to stick with it for this lengthy period of time. To play at 43 – the robust half is all of the work that have to be put in earlier than matches. As you grow old, you decelerate. The shot that was as soon as routine will not be routine anymore,” Amritraj mentioned.
“The benefit is that Rohan performs doubles. Doubles and singles are like night time and day. If you happen to needed to run down every thing for 3 hours, as you do in singles, it might have been a nightmare. The nice factor is that he has a superb serve, so there’ll all the time be free factors,” he mentioned.
“Greater than the rest, Rohan is a terrific man. He’s been a fantastic consultant for India,” Amritraj added.
Later this week, India takes on Pakistan in a Davis Cup 2024 World Group I Play-Offs tie at Islamabad (Pakistan). India will slip to Group II if it loses – a situation that doesn’t sit nicely with Amritraj.
“I’ve by no means recognized what it’s wish to be in Group II. I by no means even knew a Group II existed. That isn’t the place India belongs. It’s the gamers’ job to get us out of it,” Amritraj mentioned.
Amritraj warned towards taking the Pakistan crew frivolously.
“Firstly, I have no idea how good the grass courts are in Pakistan. Their gamers are usually good on grass. On a standard foundation – on onerous courts over 5 units – there can be no query that India will win. However these circumstances make the groups extra equal,” Amritraj mentioned.