Chennai Open , Madras (not Chennai nooo!)

The last week was a lot of fun. Bought season tickets to the Gold Flake Tata Chennai Open and went there every single day. I haven't missed a single one of it's episodes since it started sometime in '98. Boris Becker. Yevgeny Kafelnikov. Paes/Bhupathy. Richard Krajicek. Magnus Norman. Micheal Tillstrom. Paradorn Srichapan. Carlos Moya.
Actually, not many people know that there used to be a Challenger Tournament held at the same venue before it became an Open. My grandfather's house is a couple of streets away, and I usually spent my vacations with him. Nobody pays to watch a 400th ranked and 700th ranked player battle it out in the baking sun. So, I used to amble down to the courts after lunch, look at all these tall strong people hit the ball very hard and walk back in the evening. I once remember even sitting behind Leander Paes, see he wasn't very famous then. Actually, he was (he was playing the Davis Cup for India, he beat that South Afrikan guy, famous, does anyone remember him?) but not that famous. Anyway, the Challenger then became on Open.
In it's first edition, a wild card pair in the doubles, Paes and Bhupathy won the doubles, which was their first tournament win of any kind. At that time, Bhupathy was totally unknown. That win gave them seedings in the bigger tournaments and got them winning the Grand Slams and the really high profile prestigious tournaments. Anyway, this year, Rohan Bopanna and Prakash Amritraj, made it to the finals, but lost. I guess it has given them enough points to be given an entry into the Australian Open later this month. Hope they do well! That was also the year of Boris Becker. He had been close to retirement then, and I am guessing he was sent there just to kickstart things by creating a buzz. I still remember his trademark serving style and game. He lost pretty early on, but it was well worth it. He used to be called 'Boom Boom' Becker for good reason. Many generations of amateur tennis players have attempted to imitate his action. ( Other actions that I just cannot forget - Pete Sampras, Goran Ivanesevic. Thats it I think! And yes, John McKenroe. How could I!!)
Anyway, during those first years I was still in school. PSBB. (Begin Digression) I had shifted there for a more 'competitive' atmosphere and to help me to get into IIT. Those days were crazy. In addition to school, I used to have close to 15 hours a week of coaching classes, and on top of that I had to find time to study for both. I also was psychotic enough to apply to the US for undergraduate studies. So much work and tension. I seriously wonder how I did it. I didn't do anything for 2 years, except study of course. No tennis. No time for friends. No movies. No nothing. My ex-classmates in Sishya used to have a blast. Was very irritating to hear their stories! No, I don't want to go through it again. But, I guess those 2 years made me, for better or for worst is open for contest! (End Digression) The school is a street away from the Nungambakkam Stadium, and hence 3 streets away from my grandfathers house. Most of my coaching classes were held in the Nungambakkam area, so I used to practically live with my grandfather. The Open used to be a welcome break during my winter vacation.
And then I got into college, and the first half of December used to go in preparation for the inter-IIT sports meet. For those who don't know I used to play tennis for IIT Madras. (Don't think its some major thing. It quite amateurish. If you can hold a racquet and kind of make contact with the ball, you are through!) The second half of December used to be at the sports meet held in rotation at each of the six (?) IITs. The entire IIT contigent used to board the train and go across to the other IIT. My main crib about playing tennis is that we had to play for almost the entire day, and had little time to watch the other teams play. The TT guys used to play for about 45 minutes and faff around for the rest of the day. Anyway, thanks to the small size (4) and the duration of time spent together we ended up becoming pretty close friends. We usually planned something fun post meet. You also met all kinds of people. And IIT people do IIT things so you end up bumping into them here and there and everywhere. It is actually quite surprising. My tennis partner in UIUC was my opponent from IIT Bombay! Anyway, I used to come back just in time for the New Year, and the Open. On one of the finals, when the winner hit the ball into the air, I caught it, almost. It slipped out of my hand and my friend took it. Drat!
Now I am in the US. I always end up spending my winter in India and since the Open is always in the first week of January, I make it a point to go. Of late I have become addicted to the serve gun. I always have a go at it, but I never used to be able to get a good speed on it. Well, things have changed. I managed to hit one at 159 Kmph. I think in reality I my serve is 20 Kmph faster, with a better racket and a better gun. One of the pros had been asked to serve there for publicity purposes, and he clocked 162 Kmph, which I just don't believe. That guy had just beaten the previous year's finalist. I am sure the poor things that get hit by his racket rocket by at 180+ Kmph. My brother did 171 Kmph btw. It's might actually be more. He is this big really strong tall guy and the thing usually reaches me at about shoulder height, and, you just have enough time to blink. So, when I play with him, I quite naturally fear for my physical safety.
Another thing is that I keep bumping into people at the Open. Old coaches, school mates, acquaintances from here and there. The crowd is also quite 'happening' crowd, if you know what I mean. And, a fair number of celebrities. So, if you don't wan't to see the tennis, there are always other things to see!
All said, hope I make it next winter! I know there are some readers out there who are going to say, "Ha! You will probably make it next spring, summer, fall and winter."