Sunil Sipaeya... steady and sure

He is being spoken as the next Leander Paes or the Mahesh Bhupathi of Indian tennis. But one glance at the kid, and doubts start cropping into the mind whether you are asking for the moon! The tired body, and an almost lost face resembles of someone who's just got out of a tedious two-day rail journey in the Indian Railways, and doesn't quite know where to head. We are speaking of Sunil Kumar Sipaeya, the new kid on the Indian tennis block.

"No. No... I have being playing non-stop tennis for the last one month, and that's the reason I look worn out," quips Sunil, flashing a sudden smile, on his dull body language. Words come very slow, and they are measured. Surprising for a teenager.

Sunil, who was in Pune for the third leg of the International Tennis Federation's men's Futures tourney, organised by the Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association, spoke to Nagraj Gollapudi on how he plans to shape his career, taking each event at a time before setting foot into the big, wild world of men's tennis.

Sunil, who is playing the Futures event for the first time in his career has learnt a few lessons in the last few weeks. As a wildcard entrant, he did a fair job, by making the pre-quarterfinals in the first two Futures, held in Bombay and Indore respectively. In Pune, he advanced a little further, by making the last eight stage, only to lose to the top seed Lior Dahan of Israel.

"I need to work more if I have to succeed at the international level," says the 18-year-old, who, after his loss, stayed back in the city for a few days to get some tips form Davis Cup coach Nandan Bal.

"We are working on the volleys and serve part."

The Kapurthala-born Sunil has been making headlines on the junior circuit on both the international and national fronts. As a nine-year-old, he was adopted by the Chandigarh Lawn Tennis Association under its rural development programme. After winning junior tournaments on the national level, Sunil biggest hour came when he won the National Hardcourt Championship in New Delhi, in October 1999 as a 16-year-old.

It took no time for people to recognise this upcoming prodigy. The left-hander's steady progress and natural talent caught the eye of none other than 'Paes en Sport', the tennis academy run by the famed father and son duo of Dr Vece Paes and Leander Paes.

"Soon after my win at the Nationals I was approached by the academy and after weighing all options, we (me, parents and the CLTA) decided to join the academy."

Sunil joined the Calcutta-based academy in March 2000 along with two other juniors -- Amanjot Singh and Vinod Kumar Sehwag.

In this big and ruthless sport, where the stakes are high and it requires a lot of detailed planning to succeed, a player like Sunil would have been lost in no time if it was not for Paes and Co. Sunil, who comes from a middle class family (father is an accountant in a bank, and mother a housewife) owes a lot to the academy, and is really thankful that it is taking care of all his needs so that he can concentrate on climbing the ladder.

"I am really thankful to Paes en Sport, as they take care of all my needs right from the events I should take part in to the travel and accommodation. This helps me to just concentrate on my game."

Sunil spends the major part of the year in Calcutta with the remaining at the CLTA. His court skills are honed by the duo of Gary O' Brien and Akhtar Ali while Dr Paes prepares a schedule to keep him fit.

"Thrice a week I work out in the gym and the other three days I follow the fitness schedule, prescribed by Dr Paes."

Sunil has made steady progress after staying for more than a year at the academy. The year 2001 began on the wrong note for the young Indian. After making a disastrous debut in the men's cirucit, when he lost as a wild card in the first round of the 2001 Golf Flake Open to Ronald Agenor, the oldest entrant in the event, Sunil lost in the first round of the Australian Open Juniors in both the singles and doubles.

Skipping the French, Sunil took part in the Wimbledon Juniors event, where he stayed with Leander. Under the expert eye of the Indian ace, Sunil made the last sixteen in the singles event while entering the quarter-final in the doubles event.

"Leander has done every bit he could to help me and the other juniors in the academy whenever he has found time from his busy schedule both in Calcutta as well as on the Tour. Apart from speaking to us, he comes and watches our matches. It really is wonderful and helps in many ways," says Sunil.

Preparing for the final Grand Slam of the year - the US Open - Sunil, in August, made the last eight of the USTA International Grasscourt Grade 3 tournament in Philadephia while ending as a semi-finalist in the doubles category, pairing with countrymate Amanjot Singh. In the same month, combining with Raian Luchici of Romania, he won the Grade 4 event of the USTA International Hardcourt Championships.

Coming to Flushing Meadows, Sunil again lost in the pre-quarter-finals in the singles category, this time to the top seed, and the eventual winner. However, the loss did not bog him down, as he and Luchici again won an event, this time the Kentucky International Grade 1.

The latest ITF rankings for juniors puts the Indian at number 61 in the singles category and 34 in the doubles category.

So, what is the missing ingredient which stops him hitting the jackpot time and again?

"I think I need to be more focussed. I also need to work more on the physical front, as I find my competitors on the international level to be more physcially balanced than me."

Sunil thinks there is not a much of difference in the levels of the domestic and international talent. "It is not that we can't do better. Only we need to be more patient and have to be physically fit."

Does he think his small figure to be a disadvantage in the game ruled by giants?

"No, I don't agree with that. Even if I am short, I don't think it acts as a hindrance. Mostly, I can overcome that shortcoming by a good overall court game", says the 5'8" Sunil, who always comes up with an agresssive game the court.

That explains why he looks up at players like Andre Agassi, Lleyton Hewitt and Marcelo Rios.

"Look at these guys. They, too, are not tall, but they are very fast on the court and have skill sets which help them overcome the height disadvantage."

Sunil knows he has got very little time, and has to prove a lot. This year was has his last year as a junior. However, he doesn't want to rush things and end with an egg on the face.

"I want to do things at a steady pace," he says, modestly.

At present he wants to play a good game, play as many Futures and Challengers as possible and gather enough ATP points so that he can enter the main draw of big tournaments.

"My plan, at least for the next year or maybe two, is play good tournaments, gather enough points so that I can make the main draw of big events."

When does he think he will be ready to enter the men's cirucit?

"I am not scared that I am taking things slowly. I want to go at a steady pace and concentrate on my game. Be physically fit always, gather good points."

Sunil, who would be taking his HSC (standard 12) examinations in March 2002, is not, at least at present, interested in the applications he is receiving from various US universities.

"At present I am not at all interested in joining the US universities, as I am geeting good guidance and lots of events to play."

So, is tennis going to be his career, or is it going to be a means to further his academics and simultaneously nurture his career?

"At present I want to balance my studies and game. But definitely I guess I may chose tennis as my bread and butter."

It's really too early to predict anything about this youthful talent, but it is certain that the lad is capable of making it big.

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