PUNE: Somdev Devvarman strongly believes that a "lack of focussed development" is hampering Indian tennis, which is staring at a lean phase in the near future with no player — man or woman — ranked good enough to get an entry into Grand Slam qualifying.
"We are far from where we need to be. Not to be pessimistic, you have to be objective and realistic. And a lot of the times, numbers don't lie," the former Davis Cupper said on the side-lines of the $130,000 PMR Open ATP Challenger here on Tuesday.
"While different state associations and different individuals are putting in really good efforts to have the Challengers and Futures, it is an important step obviously, let us not forget that development is an equally important step. Maybe more important.
"Without focussed development, improvement doesn't happen. I feel that's where a lot of our players stand right now. They are showing a lack of improvement, not based on ranking but on the quality of tennis that they are playing.
"The only way to fix that is to focus on development and have good training blocks and then go out there and prove what you have.
"It is a fact. You go out to Tunisia, Egypt and Turkey where they have 40-45 Futures a year and you see the level getting better every year. And then you go to Europe and America, it is a completely different game.
"While I appreciate the fact that we are having so many tournaments, the lack of development for me is very, very apparent."
The double gold-medallist at the 2010 Asian Games, the country's highest ranked player at No. 61 after the turn of the century, acknowledged that lack of sponsorship was an impediment in player development but funding alone "is not going solve your issue".
"Funds don't make tennis players, otherwise the richest players would be the best players in the world," Somdev, 38, said.
"I look at it as a pie-chart and funds are maybe 20, 25 percent at the most. But most of all you have to get fitter, stronger, you have to have good guidance. And consistent performances, whether you are playing or training.
"Sadly, the best juniors in our country now, every single one of them, don't want to be in India. For what, at least five years now? Everyone wants to be in Germany, Spain, or anywhere else. What does that tell you about what's happening here?
"I don't think the long-term solution is to keep going outside. At some point, you have to build. At some point, you have to catch up. At some point, people have to be responsible for doing the right thing."
The Assam-born Tripura native, who won the NCAA singles title twice, said it was a misconception that Indian athletes cannot take the fitness workload from a young age.
"My philosophy has been very simple. Give the very best from a very young age. Your body will learn how to cope," he said.
"I don't believe Carlos Alcaraz was taking his time at 14. I think he was pushing his limits. Are the Indians naturally as fit? We don't know yet because we haven't pushed our limits."
Somdev, based in Chennai, is part of the coaching staff at the Nensel Tennis Academy in Germany, where Nagal trains. As such, he has been guiding the 25-year-old during the Challenger events in Chennai and Bengaluru over the past fortnight.
He said the "last couple of weeks were eye-opening for me in many ways" with regard to the coaching standards in the country.
"I spent time with a lot of my friends, who are young coaches in Chennai and Bangalore. It is very clear to see that the experience was lacking," he said.
"It was not for lack of effort, but basic experience is lacking. Now, how are we going to get waves of players coming unless we improve our coaches? It is not going to happen.
"Listen, now versus 20 years ago when I was growing up, there were these ITF courses, random 3-day courses, they don't work. You don't become a tennis coach in three days.
"In this sport, you have to put in years and years and years, under the right kind of culture before you can consider yourself a serious tennis coach. You are not a weekend coach, you cannot be someone who comes once a week and have an impact.
"For me, development of coaches and development of players have a massive void."
Somdev was practical but also felt gutted about things having come to such a pass.
"The future, it is what it is. Back in the day, if we're winning matches in the Davis Cup, if we're getting to the World Group, it'd nothing to do with the federation," he said.
"The players are all putting in all the work, none of them have any regard for them at all. None of them lean on them for any guidance or support. I didn't think it can reach any lower, but it continues to do so.
"For me it just shows lack of care. Lack of accountability has been there, but mostly lack of care. Man, these guys (players) are bursting, they are working so hard. Seven guys in Pune didn't get in last two weeks. Do you know how hard it is?
"Travel to Chennai, find a place to stay, travel to Bangalore, not get in, practise for two days and come to Pune, get in as alternate, play one match … how is this guy going to improve?
"Will finances fix the problem? You can't just throw money at a problem and expect the problem to disappear. It is not just about finances, much more than that.
"We had three tournaments now and have four more tournaments (to follow). It would have been lovely to see a sort of pre-season training block after the Pune event.
"Get 15-20 guys to train together with four-five young coaches, have someone heading it. Try and inculcate some sort of culture, where we are putting the players under some sort of expectations professionally. And the coaches under some sort of expectations professionally.
"Can we be perfect? No, but at least we can strive for something better. Right now, there are 15-20 guys doing their own things. Everyone finding his own practice, there is no one coaching anybody, and everyone wondering what to do before Delhi. There is no structure around it.
"After four weeks, we are back to square one. And there will be the same string of tournaments next year and we will be doing the exact same thing. So where is the improvement? Where are the young coaches?
"If we continue this way, for me, it is a shame."
