January 8, 2025
by K. Balakumar
www.newstodaynet.com

What do the players dread the most on the Tour? Well, most of them say it is loneliness. Living out of suitcases and staying in totally a new places, the thing they miss the most is company. More importantly, company in which they can be absolutely at ease.

What do they if they don't find such suitable ones? Hang out with opponents as long as they are from the same country, that is.

In the ongoing Tata Open, players have been found bunched together on country lines even though many of them have had to fight out against each other on the court.

The biggest of the bunches is of course the Spaniards. With around 10 players in the fray, they have been the most visible and voluble. Almost all the players make it a point to cheer from the players' stand when one of their number is having a game at the centre court.

The Thais are also not far behind. Though there were just two Thai players in the fray reigning champion Paradorn Srichaphan and the up and coming Danai Udomchoke, there is a huge contingent of local Thais who are there to lend moral and vocal support.

Of course, there is also the ubiquitous presence of Srichaphan's father and coach, Chanachai, who makes it a point to watch all the matches that his son plays.

Asia's top tennis player also has his mother and brother travelling together to all tournaments. In this Tata Open, however, they are not to be seen. The Thai sensation says the presence of family members and his countrymen greatly reduces the stress levels that the Tour engenders on players. 'I have been travelling with them for long. They know what to do to keep me prepared for a match and what to do after a tiring match. It helps at many levels,' he says.

For others who don't get the luxury of having their family members, the next best thing is to have their countrymen around. 'At least you have somebody speaking the same language as you do,' says a member of the Spanish Armada here.

'This can be a major relief,' says Israeli player Noam Okum who stayed all through his compatriots' Harel Levy's match against Srichaphan last night. The previous night, his own match was watched by Levy and another Israeli player. 'This happens in almost every tournament we play in,' he says. 'In bigger places, it is possible you can manage to find your own way. But in smaller places, like here, you need to have your own men around.'

Apart from drawing emotional sustenance, some players also bank on sporting support from their countrymen. For instance, Rafael Nadal is totally dependant on Carlos Moya, the Spanish No 1.

If anything, Nadal, who lost to a Frenchman in ther first round here, made it to the Tata Open only on the insistence of Moya.

Nadal usually practices with Moya as they both hail from Mallorca. On court, they are of course serious rivals so much so that Nadal insists that his moment on the Tour so far has been his victory against guru Moya in the Hamburg Tennis Masters last year.

The Indians too seem to be grouping around. For the Amritrajs, the fathers and the sons, there is no problem as they generally go around as family. Lately, Mahesh Bhupathi is also seen in their company.

But as typical as anything in India there is an undercurrent of some politics to whole grouping. On Tuesday night, when Prakash and Stephen Amritraj along with Bhupathi were sitting together and watching a match in the stands, Harsh Mankad, who had just finished his doubles match along with Mustafa Ghouse, put in an appearance in the stands. He just waved at Bhupathi and sat separately in a different place. It was obvious that he was not part of the 'group'.

Perhaps, Mankad was still smarting from the previous night's loss to Prakash.

Or he was feeling that he was done in by the Amritrajs who have been managing to get a few things done to their liking in Indian tennis.

But anyway, the Indians too say they prefer each other's company when on Tour.

The camaraderie and the ready bonhomie as well as the essential comfort that familiarity breeds bunch them all together.

'We are friends first, foes later', says Okun of his relationship with players of his country.

The point is even if you can beat them, join them.

Those who play together, also stay together.