Pune: Sometimes the sequel can be better than the original.
if his tennis Career will be divided into two parts, no prizes for guessing which one Vijay Sundar Prashant Will cherish more.
The 37-year-old has been living his dream for the past few years. They won three Challenger doubles titles in partnership in 2023 Anirudh Chandrashekhar11 years younger than him.
this pair played Australian Open This year, the first appearance at a Grand Slam for both, a series of poor results led to their separation.
However, Vijay soon got his charm back after he started working with his childhood friend Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan from May.
The pair reached the final of the clay-court Challenger in Bonn in August and took it to another level by winning the title last week. atp 250 series Incident in Hangzhou, China.
“I mean, it’s a great feeling after going through the journey. And, I would say some kind of validation that we’re doing the right thing and on the right track,” Vijay said of his first success on the ATP Tour. ” In a measured tone, belying the heavy emotions he was experiencing.
Barring the opening round, all three teams defeated by the Indian combination on the way to the trophy included top 50 ranked players – Julian Cash (38) and Lloyd Glasspool (42) in the second round, Ariel Behar (45) and Robert Galloway (semi-finalist). 40), and Constantin Frantzen (47) and Hendrik Jebens (47) in the final.
Vijay said, “To be honest, we did not expect to win the title. I mean we always believed in ourselves and our talent and we believed that we could match any team at the highest level.”
“With the doubles format, we knew we had to play well on big points. I think we did well this week.
“Really, to do it in four games in a row and against top 50 teams, it really surprised us. But also not in a big way, because I think we both really believed we could make it to this tournament.” Can match any team.”
It seems that playing with life brings out the best in it.
Vijay said, “We are very familiar with each other, we have known each other on and off the court for almost 25 years. We have grown up together in Chennai. So it is easy to work as a team. It is done.”
“We accept each other’s analysis and feedback after the match with an open mind, so it helps the team move forward.
“We know we’re in this for the long haul, and we won’t judge the partnership based on a few bad results or a few first-round losses. That’s the way we’ve approached it, so that will help.”
But the journey was not always full of roses. Just when he was focusing on doubles, the Covid pandemic disrupted his career and the long period of uncertainty was too harsh for someone who has had to deal with financial constraints throughout his career.
“Yes, after Covid, it was tough, as most tennis players who were not playing at the highest level had to do, I had to reevaluate my entire career, my life, how to take it forward,” he Said. Said.
“That’s when I thought doubles could be a viable option to continue, because at least I would be playing the Challenger Tour, which would technically help me move up the ladder and financially help me keep the game going.” .
“Since then, I’ve had more clarity on how to approach doubles. And I have this blind belief that I can be a very good doubles player. That’s translated on the court.”
The revival began when his contemporary and former Tamil Nadu state-mate PC Vignesh asked him if he was willing to form an alliance with his younger brother Anirudh.
Anirudh had long ago decided to play doubles full-time and Vignesh felt that the experienced Vijay would be the ideal partner to guide Anirudh.
“The partnership with Anirudh was good because we used each other’s strengths,” Vijay said.
“He used my experience, and I used his young, enthusiastic energy, which I was lacking.
“Because I was coming back after the lockdown, (I was) searching for answers, and someone who had that inspiration and enthusiasm influenced me, and I was giving that experience to them.
“Then we worked our way up. So, it was a really good partnership because we got to climb different levels.
“We had to work as a team. For the first time in my career, I worked as a team with someone and we had to overcome many hurdles. We played the first Slam (for both of us) together. So “It was really good, yes.”
Although he has managed to turn things around on the tennis court, he has yet to translate it into financial security given the low budget on offer in doubles.
“Honestly, the thing that has always been a challenge for me throughout my career is the financial aspect of playing sports professionally,” Vijay said.
“I don’t know how long I will be able to last because now I am married, I have a five-month-old baby. So, I have to think about that aspect of life as well.
“So, I’ve accepted that this is never going to go away. It’s up to me to start performing well, and then I can generate my own money and sustain myself playing at this level. “
“So, for me personally, that is the only challenge, everything else, I am very confident about myself, my work ethic, the partner I have, and the circle I have created around me.
“My wife has been very supportive of my career, which is really important at this stage.
“So, the only challenge for me is the financial aspect. Hopefully there will come a stage where I won’t have to worry about it.”
