Champions Tennis League is not just entertainment but also important for Indian tennis

Christmas seems to have arrived early for Indian tennis players. The Champions Tennis League is still in its infancy, but the competition is already turning into a carnival for the emaciated tennis community in India. At a time when Indian tennis is living off the doubles format, the CTL promises to fuel new dreams for an aspiring generation of men and women.

At the futures and challenger events that fill the Indian tennis calendar, the only noise that invades the ears is the exertions of the players, punctuated by the officials calling the state of play. It is in these empty stadia that our young men and women pursue their dreams of a life on the ATP and WTA. Most of them over the past two decades have struggled to make the transition, spending their moderate careers around the lower rungs of tennis.

The winter leagues – CTL and IPTL though promise to usher in a new era for the sport in India, drawing in engaged spectators, even as they provide an international platform for some of the best tennis talent in India. The undying spirit of Vishnu Vardhan, the late blooming brilliance of Saketh Myneni, the promise of Yuki Bhambri and the potential of Ramkumar Ramanathan finally seem to have the canvas needed to express themselves on a bigger stage.

These leagues bring together professionals from two different worlds together for a few weeks, building valuable bridges of learning and experience for our players.

The opportunity to train and play with professionals such as Fernando Verdasco, Ivo Karlovic and Feliciano Lopez will help our young players understand the nuances of the sport at the highest level, as they practice their craft alongside some of these high ranking players.

The presence of a serial winner like Martina Hingis and the reigning US Open winner Flavia Pennetta is an invaluable treat to the dozen juniors that travel with the six teams, soaking in the experience and drawing much needed inspiration.

The exciting format allows for high intensity battle and being in the thick of it all, should help our men learn the art of drawing from the reservoir of their body and mind, while playing under pressure.

But considering that the whole carnival is a racy little party for many of the professionals, it is important for our players to keep their head above water and focus on the tennis. It is very easy with these kind of events to get lost in the celebration and miss the tennis altogether.

After all these young players, especially the juniors, are far removed from the five star luxury that envelopes their existence during the event. The media attention, the swaying crowds and the general noise that surrounds these events is a huge distraction, even as it is a source of great energy.

Indian tennis is in a phase of transition – Mahesh Bhupathi is a fulltime businessman and Leander Paes is in the autumn of his extended career. Rohan Bopanna is playing exceptionally well, but he too is well past his 30s. The mantle of responsibility is clearly shifting and our Davis Cup hopes rest on the shoulders of Somdev Devvarman, Yuki Bhambri, Myneni and Ramkumar as we continue to seek an elusive spot in the World Group.

As far removed from that dream as we might be at this time, playing in these team settings should help harden these players and offer innumerable opportunities to gain insights from the professionals that accompany them for a few weeks every season.

“The goal is to produce singles players. The opportunity is increasing and CTL is giving them a chance to see these players in the world’s top 25,” said Vijay Amritraj, in the lead up to the second edition of the CTL.

“They get opportunities at finding out what they do, how they practise, their diet, their gym work and all of that. They have the opportunity to watch everything from close up and get inspired."

Indian tennis will be served well if our young men and the juniors keep their head above shoulders and use these opportunities to harness their skills and journey higher in their pursuit of the sport.