When Sania faced a five-year-old ‘Djokovic’

On Saturday, two-time Grand Slam winner Sania Mirza faced a ‘Nadal’ and a ‘Djokovic’ at her own academy on the outskirts of the city.

Up against India’s best-ever women’s tennis player was five-year-old Tejas Singh Bhatia, a huge fan of World No.1 Novak Djokovic. And he had a forehand to proud of.

“I think for his age, to essay, to even reach and then get the forehand right is incredible talent,” remarked an amused Sania after she played a ‘friendly’ with Tejas and his elder brother Praneet Singh Bhatia (who idolises Rafael Nadal), both students of Glendale Academy.

With his unbridled zeal, Tejas was the cynosure of all eyes at the academy. When his mother Gurpreet Singh told him that he would be playing a game against Sania, quick was the response: “so that will be my first match against an international player”!

Interestingly, both Praneet and Tejas are brilliant in academics too: the former has won gold medals in Maths Olympiads, besides chasing his goals of being a tennis player.

“I tell you I have not seen such a young kid with such a powerful forehand. He [Tejas] is a bundle of talent, no doubt,” exclaimed Sania’s father Imran Mirza.

Tejas says he is very keen to play in Wimbledon after having watched it on television. His father Manmeet Singh, who moved over to the city from Delhi six years ago, and is now working with a private lab, is ready to provide all support. “This is exactly the talent we have been looking for and the reason why we started the academy – to groom young talent,” sign off the Mirzas.

I think for his age, to essay, to even reach and then get the forehand right is incredible talent

Sania Mirza

Tennis player