He just made into the top 100 of the ATP Doubles ranking. As did Sriram Balaji (71), Yuki Bhambri (62), Anirudh Chandrashekhar (87), Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan (93) and Saketh Myneni (96), giving Indian Doubles Tennis an impetus after Tennis champ and stalwart Rohan Bopanna spearheaded his way to No 3 at 43.
For Vijay Sundar Prashanth, it’s been years and years of toil, sweat and losses – a weight he relinquishes to give 100 percent in his next tennis match. Currently in Europe, on the Challengers tour, he has also been playing with Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan, and the duo made it to the finals in recent challenger tournaments in Helsinki and Stockholm. He also partners with Anirudh Chandrashekar.
Struggling to make ends meet, even if the heady taste of victory is elusive, his zeal, calmness and clarity of purpose has kept him steadfast when most would have hung their boots. The win against Indian Davis Cup player Yuki Bhambri at the 2015 Aircel Chennai Open, and becoming the fourth Indian ever to qualify for the main draw is behind him. Now, with his career high ATP doubles ranking of 92, achieved on 13 November 2023, his singles career is behind him.
The 37-year-old had a career high ATP singles ranking of 335. Now, cracked into the top 100 for the first time after reaching the finals of the Tali Open in Helsinki, Finland, it’s following the benchmark Rohan Bopanna has set. That, for Prashanth, is inspiration enough.
My grandfather would take me for practice, tournaments in an auto
Vijay’s grandfather introduced him to tennis at five. Cricket, a sport everyone aspired for those days, and even now, in a tossup between basketball and tennis, the non-contact sport won at PT at his Chennai School. “My parents thought tennis was the option for individual attention. I just loved it. No one in the family had a sporting background, my grandfather would pick me up from school, take me to tennis practice in an auto,” Vijay recalls.
His mother and father are retired now, and have been evergreen cheerleaders, which he attributes to his perseverance in a sport that has waylaid many due to its exorbitant expenses and demands.
A volley of friends is his support
Currently based in London as his wife Sonam is from there, his middle class upbringing has ensured a grounded focused preparation. Playing professionally for the past 14 years, he attributes his loyal circle of friends circle in Chennai, all tennis players, as his biggest support.
The journey into tennis, and how it has empowered him, he adds, “I never thought waking up early or taking the bus and not having too much money was a problem. It was difficult, yes. If I had had sponsors, it would have been easier, but it has made me tougher, shaped me. I just enjoyed the journey, and had immensely good people around me. My wife is committed, and my friends have been a part of my journey since 16-17.”
My work isn’t done yet
Not vocal, pushy or extroverted, Vijay is not focusing on being in the top 100. “I am no different than what I was a week ago. It’s great, maybe after a few years when I look back I will enjoy it as my work isn’t done yet,” he adds.
The financial aspect is tough – worrying about matches, and his game, and where the next buck will come from. It comes with a fair share of anxiety, but when it started having a direct impact on his game, he said, enough.
“The reality is I can’t change my circumstances, so I’ve trained myself not to worry too much. Thankfully my wife Sonam supports us,” says the doubles player who met Sonam, a food technologist based in the UK, through common friends. She now enthuses her expertise to his basic “curd rice and sambhar proclivity” since 2018 when they wed. He admits though that he has always avoided junk food, aerated drinks though, “I have a sweet tooth and eat lots of chocolates, which I’ve reduced. I eat vegetables, protein, greens, and of course I love my rice,” smiles Vijay.
The UK is his training ground
Staying near Delgado & Lee Pro Tennis Academy, he often practices there. Hugely thankful to tennis great and World Doubles No 3 Rohan Bopanna and Kishore Patil for the programme Doubles Dream of India initiated in 2023, now Indian players on access physios and coaching, which has been a god send. “They have been helping players by sending physios and coaches to most tournaments. If there are more than two players from the programme for the same tournament, we get the welcome support,” he adds.
Now, playing doubles with Anirudh for the past 35 weeks, has been hugely positive, as his spark, raw energy and motivation complements Vijays’s experience and calm. “The trouble of finding partners every few weeks is mentally tiring, one needs to keep asking. Thankfully, over the past two years, I have had only one partner. Without the worry of finding partners, added to the travel, financial, visa, is a relief. I’m not complaining, but one thing is off the plate, and that’s gratifying.”
Miles to go
There are miles to go, at a higher level for Vijay who admits that his speed, forehand and reaction are his strengths, though he needs to work on volleying. Now, looking at the Australian Open 2024, aiming to finish as high as possible, its training, and meditation.
From his memorable wins, it was his doubles match with Anirudh where the duo got their first title in Pune, and his singles in the futures match nine years ago against Ram Kumar. Taking the good with the bad, he adds, “Losses help one reflect on the game. You always have the next day to come back on court and set things right.” Short stints in Poland, and playing in Germany at a club for nine year, a sprinkling of training under different coaches, it was a camp in 2015 that changed his perspective, organised by Somdev Devvarman during his preseason at Sania Mirza’s Academy.
“His trainer Milosh, coach Scott and Somdev invited me, and a few players for two-and-a-half weeks. It was eye opening, everyone pushed each other to the limit – it was good. I looked up to Somdev, even though we grew up playing together, he was the one who pushed the horizon, and achieved greater heights, became an inspiration. Training with them gave me a huge boost,” says Vijay.
I idolised Juan Carlos Ferrero
The perseverance continues for the tennis player who used to think his style of play was similar to Juan Carlos Ferrero, who is now Carlos Alcaraz’ coach. “In my early 20s, I idolised Juan Carlos Ferrero. Am not sure I play like him now,” he laughs. A good game of football is always on the cards for Vijay who is a diehard Manchester United and Paul Scholes fan, and is a central defender.
A last word? “The tennis premier league has given Indian tennis players an impetus, and can help players. Sponsorship is still such a big task and hopefully there will be people who see my results and commitment. And look past just my age.”