Ramkumar Ramanathan to cut down on Challenger events

CHENNAI: Ever since

Ramkumar Ramanathan

made the Chennai Open quarterfinals back in 2016 and went on to beat world No. 8

Dominic Thiem

last year, there was a sense of expectation around the TN lad. He came closing to winning an ATP event this year when he made the Newport final in July beating Victor Estrella, Denis Kudla, Vasek Pospisil and Tim Smyczek before going down to Steve Johnson in the summit clash. But the high of playing in an ATP 250 event final has stayed on with the 24-year-old.

Ramkumar says that he will now be focusing on playing more ATP 250 and 500 events rather than featuring in Challengers next season onwards. And he has already resumed training even as his season drew to a close two weeks back when he won the doubles event at the Pune Challenger. “It’s not only about the feeling of playing in an ATP 250 final but the kind of lessons you learn from the experienced campaigners. One day, I was sending down about 100 serves when Leander Paes came up to me and taught me how to use the wind to my advantage in Newport. And his advice helped. So when you play these tournaments, your game automatically improves. For now I am focused on the Maharashtra Open and Australian Open and of course the Davis Cup next year. But I want to play a lot of ATP 250s and 500s next season and I am probably going to pick and choose the Challengers. I want to break it up periodically,” Ramkumar, who has returned home after eight months, told TOI here after his training session late on Wednesday.

In a bid to achieve his goal, Ramkumar says remaining fit will be crucial. In fact, this is the first time that the Chennai lad has chalked out an extensive fitness regime and is training under former India cricket team trainer Ramji Srinivasan. “My trainer Suresh introduced me to Ramji a few days back. Then I also spoke to my coach Sanchez Emilio and we chalked out a programme. Earlier, I used to train in a group at the academy but this is the first time I am doing it at an individual level with proper focus on each aspects of my body. I have been working on my glutes and a lot of other areas. Fitness and recovery are key. If you remain fit, you can concentrate better. It then helps you to win those crucial breaks and points,” said Ramkumar, who says that he is gorging on home food.

The 133-ranked player is also aware of the kind of improvements his game requires to make an impression in ATP events.

“I have been working a lot on my backhands and side movements. Whenever I get a chance, I try to focus on backhand returns and return of serves,” he said.