Difficult to predict a winner in this year’s Australian Open: Saketh
He said it is important for a player to remain focused. “Once the tournament starts, a player has to come out of the comfort zone before getting into the playing mood.’’
Hyderabad: Saketh Myneni, the 2014 Incheon Asian Games doubles winner, says it is difficult to predict a winner for this year’s Australian Open, the first Grand Slam tournament of the year which starts from February 8 in Melbourne.
“Whoever is self-motivated will be the winner. Mental toughness will be the key in big tournaments now. The players are going through a difficult phase. They are so used to travelling and playing in tournaments but sitting in homes or being quarantined for a long period of time does test a player’s patience.
“The players have to rework on their strategies. Staying in a room for 14 days before a Grand Slam is something that was never heard before. It is very, very tough as you are all alone, motivating yourself and playing against the walls in the room itself,’’ said the 33-year-old.
The players, according to Saketh, are preparing differently because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“It is a big step back. The players are now more worried about the Covid-19 pandemic. Is it safe to travel, stay or play? These doubts linger among the players’ minds. It is a tough phase. We have already lost a good number of playing days because of this pandemic.‘’
He said it is important for a player to remain focused. “Once the tournament starts, a player has to come out of the comfort zone before getting into the playing mood.’’
Saketh is hopeful that Sumit Nagal, the Indian hopeful, will do well in the Australian Open. “But we are looking to get more number of Indian players to be at the big stage. Sumit had done well in the US Open and that performance was great for his career. We need to have at least three or four Indians in the main draw of a Grand Slam tournament not just one player from the country.’’
The Hyderabad-based player is looking forward to the tournaments to start in the country. “We have to be mentally strong and prepare ourselves to get to the right frame of mind before the tournament. This needs a different planning and we need to be careful against injuries.’’
Saketh said that the young players need a lot to learn from senior players like 40-year-old Rohan Bopanna. “They are competing and doing over and over. We have to take a lot of positives from them. They have the motivation to do it and we need to follow in their footsteps.’’
The Australian Open will be aired live on Sony Six, Sony Ten 2 and Sony Ten 3 (in Hindi) from February 8.
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