Sports
The 23-year-old from Pune has been given a ticket to play his first-ever ATP tournament at the ATP Maharashtra Open due to the home connect, and he comes in tasting success at a level he hasn't before.
Updated : Dec 31, 2017, 01:30 AM IST
Arjun Kadhe couldn't have got the luxury of a wild card at a better time.
The 23-year-old from Pune has been given a ticket to play his first-ever ATP tournament at the ATP Maharashtra Open due to the home connect, and he comes in tasting success at a level he hasn't before.
Kadhe won his maiden Futures singles title in Thu Dau Mot City, Vietnam, in November, and backed it up in the following month with a couple of Futures doubles titles at the with Mumbai's Aryan Goveas.
No wonder the 608th-ranked singles player is eager to make the most of this opportunity presented to him both in singles and doubles, and not just on the tennis court.
Kadhe isn't expecting miracles in terms of results but rather, is kicked about what the build-up to the tournament has taught him.
"Looking at all the big players coming and just watching them do their stuff in training, it's really exciting to be here and be a part of this big event," Kadhe said.
"I have no expectations, obviously, other than just giving my best and learning as much as I can from his event. It has been a good last couple of months for me, so I'm really excited to see how things go. But as of now, I'm just trying to soak in as much as I can," he added.
Watching his father both play and coach, Kadhe got attracted to the sport at an age when the tennis racquet was bigger than him .
Taken under his wings by Pune coach Hemant Bendre and being smitten by Andy Roddick, Kadhe shifted to the Oklahoma State University three-and-a-half years ago to channelise his tennis aspirations.
Having graduated this summer, Kadhe now aims to go a step higher from the next season and try and get into some Challenger events along with Futures. And playing in the ATP Maharashtra Open is the first step towards that goal.
"I'll be suddenly up against players who are way higher ranked and who're not going to give you any freeway. So, it's going to be difficult competing against them. But that's what you look for as a tennis player, if you want to improve, if you want to be there. You've got to learn and you've got to beat them one day," he said.
Many a young, promising tennis players in India have, in the past, given up on playing singles and have instead focused entirely on doubles in the hope of prolonging their careers as well as having a shot at a considerable level of success.
Kadhe wants to continue juggling both at the moment, but hasn't ruled out leaning one way or the other.
"I understand that there are many players who have shifted from singles to doubles. But if you're good in doubles, that's pretty good too nowadays. The perspective about being a doubles player has changed from what it was 10 years ago.
"As of now, I'm playing both, and I have no preferences. But it all depends on how good I do in either, and then prioritize," he said.