The Hindu : Sport : Somdev Devvarman optimistic of a revival in fortunes

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Somdev Devvarman optimistic of a revival in fortunes

Special Correspondent

— File Photo

DETERMINED: Somdev is confident of getting back to winning ways soon.

NEW DELHI: He may not be having good results of late on the professional tennis circuit, but Somdev Devvarman takes solace from the fact that he is enjoying his best ATP ranking of 129 at the moment.

Feeling fresh after a surprise visit to his parents in Agartala, the 24-year-old Indian No. 1 player was confident that he would be able to arrest the alarming trend and get back to winning ways soon.

He had done very well earlier in the season like reaching the final of the Chennai Open Tour event. “It is good to push your ranking up early in the season. But, I know that I can’t rely on that for long.

“I am actually playing well, and confident that the results would start coming once I get back to the hardcourt circuit in the U.S.,” said Somdev here on Thursday.

Slip

After winning both his singles matches without dropping a set in the Davis Cup tie against Chinese Taipei in March, while helping India record a memorable victory away from home, Somdev has not been able to win two successive singles matches in a tournament except for the French Open qualifying event.

The wiry lad pointed out that there were many tie-breaks in those matches, spanning 11 events, and that he was unlucky not to convert many chances in those matches.

“Everybody goes through a rough patch and am confident of bouncing back,” said Somdev.

Quite pleased

Obviously, he was quite pleased to have qualified for the Wimbledon doubles main draw and playing a good first round against Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles of the Bahamas, with his friend from the University of Illinois, Kevin Anderson of South Africa.

“It is good to have a nice run in doubles, but I am hungry to get the singles results,” said Somdev, who will be competing in the Aptos Challenger in California before getting into the Tour events in Indianapolis, Los Angeles and Washington DC.

The Davis Cup World Group play-off against South Africa will be another chance for Somdev to assert his stature as the No.1 player in the team. Incidentally, Kevin Anderson would be the No. 1 player for South Africa.

“It is going to be a very interesting tie for both the teams as both are pretty evenly matched. We have the advantage of a better doubles team. I will work hard, reach there early and give my best,” he said.

The tie will be played on the indoor hardcourts in Johannesburg. Somdev said that the surface would be a little quicker and he was looking forward to playing in South Africa for the first time and make it memorable for India.

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