It was just the other day that I remembered a friend of mine—a huge tennis fan winning his first big ‘bet,’ not in cash, but a movie ticket, followed by dinner hosted by other friends who had lost the wager. My friend had pulled an ‘oracle’ as it were. He resolutely believed that Ramesh Krishnan, the gentle tennis star, whose career he had followed keenly, would win his first ATP (1982) at the Stuttgart Open, against Sandy Mayer. Ramesh won the match 5-7, 6-3, 6-3, 7-6.
Fast-forward 1993. Ramesh had always believed in playing the game with respect, dignity, and honour. He gave his best for the country, whatever the odds. But, the way his image was ‘sullied’ by All India Tennis Association’s skewed allegations, at the twilight of his career, was disgusting. Ramesh just called it quits to Davis Cup and tennis. This was quite unlike the man himself. But, that’s the way it is—of yet another management foible, so typical of Indian sport.
Ramesh (born, June 5, 1961) had every right and write to hang his boots in a sport through which he had served India so well—with peace of mind and a happy smile, not bitterness. Sad, yes. But, who cared? Ask the AITA? Never. You won’t find the game worth the candle with the ‘august’ body, as critics yodelled, at that time, at best. The whole spectacle was bemoaning; also repulsive. And, now come to think of elevating the standards of the game in India—AITA’s grand time-table, at that point, or was it a mere hallucination?
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