New Bhambri on the block

After sisters Ankita and Sanaa, brother Yuki is hoping to make the transition to the senior level

MUMBAI: Teenage prodigy Yuki Bhambri could be the next big thing in Indian tennis. The 16-year-old from Delhi recently helped the Indian junior team reach the semifinals of the Davis cup.

Though they eventually lost to Russia 1-2, Yuki impressed all. He beat Mikhail Biryukov 6-0 6-4 in a semifinal tie.

Yuki is training at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy (NBTA) in Bradenton, Florida. Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Boris Becker and the William sisters, have all trained at the same academy at some point in time. “The training I have undergone at academy has helped me a lot. They have taught me to become more aggressive,” Yuki said.

Currently ranked 18 in the ITF Junior rankings, Yuki is confident that the NBTA will help him complete his transition from junior to senior level.

“At the academy, they prepare one for this transition by working a lot on the approach and hitting with much older players and college students which gives one the confidence to play in the senior league,” he said.

Yuki, who started at five, hopes that a few more junior tournaments will help him  graduate to the senior level.

With the Bhambris, tennis is a family affair. His sisters, Ankita and Sanaa, have been on the circuit for a while now.

“My sisters used to play and I was dragged along by my mother to play outside on the dust or grass. I used to pick up their balls and play with their rackets when they would finish. It was only natural that I progressed to the courts.

“At ten, my coach Aditya Sachdeva said I was the best of the Bhambris and encouraged my parents to let me take up the sport seriously,” he said.

He says the family is close knit despite the fact that they are in different parts of the world. “We always pray for each other’s success. Even though we may be in different parts of the world, we know each others scores and day’s events,” Yuki said.