EXCLUSIVE: Sania Mirza was national HERO, Indian tennis failed…, says Somdev Devvarman

The first Grand Slam of the year – the Australian Open 2025 – begins on Sunday (January 12) and Indian participation in the event is threadbare to say the least. Sumit Nagal is the only Indian participant in the singles draw and Rohan Bopanna is the lone contestant from India in the doubles section. There is no Indian woman tennis player who is even in qualifying race for the Australian Open.

It is a stark turnaround from a couple of years back when India dominated the doubles circuit with Sania Mirza rising to the No. 1 position in 2015. Sania was a breakthrough star in the doubles as well as singles winning six Grand Slam titles in her career apart from 43 doubles titles. She won the Australian Open women’s doubles crown in 2016 and the mixed doubles title in 2009.

But India were never able to build on the success of Sania Mirza or for that matter Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna. This is what upsets former world No. 62 Somdev Devvarman.

“Sania’s success was massive and India had the momentum in tennis back then. Sania Mirza was a national hero and every little girl probably wanted to pick up a tennis racket because of her. If there had been proper coaching and grassroots system in place, we could have had lot more success coming our way,” Somdev Devvarman said in a interview to India.com website.

“It is no doubt the shortcoming of the Indian tennis administration that we have failed to take the advantage of the success of Sania, Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna,” Devvarman added.

Such is the situation now in India tennis, that we don’t have anywhere near the prowess of Sania Mirza and should be happy if any breaks through into the top 100. “I don’t think we should be looking at Grand Slam champions at the moment. We should be waiting for the next few persons who can break into the top 100. There are some players who are making the moves in doubles but they are still far away from bidding for a Grand Slam title. In women’s tennis, we don’t even have a single participant even for qualifying of Australia Open 2025,” the 39-year-old added.

 

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‘Tough draw for Sumit Nagal, but he can cause an upset’

India’s Sumit Nagal is ranked no. 96 in the men’s singles rankings and has been thrown a curve-ball as he faces world No. 26 Tomas Machac in the first round of the Australian Open 2025. It will be the first time ever that Nagal will be facing Machac.

Devvarman believes that it will be a tough opening round with Machac as the favourite but Nagal has the capability of causing an upset. “Sumit Nagal has got a really tough draw but he has had a good start to the year with a win over Adrian Mannarino some time back, who is top 100 player (ranked no. 66). First round can be a tricky one for everyone but if Nagal plays to his potential he can cause an upset,” he said.

The former tennis star from Agartala slammed the All India Tennis Association for their handling of players like Nagal during Davis Cup weeks. “AITA doesn’t make it easy for the players. Davis Cup weeks are very hard. Indian tennis has all this unwanted drama and bias from the David Cup captain and even the support staff,” Devvarman claimed.

‘Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka are the favourites’

Devvarman believes the top seeds in the men’s and women’s draws will of course be the favourites but Australian Open 2025 could throw up some surprises. “I believe Coco Gauff has a chance although Aryna Sabalenka will be the favourite. It will certainly not be easy to win her third title in a row while Elena Rybakina has the game to succeed on the hardcourt,” Devvarman said.

“In the men’s draw, Sinner will be the favourite and Daniil Medvedev could push him. On the other side of the draw, Carlos Alcaraz will be the favourite while Novak Djokovic will be gunning for a historic 25th title with Andy Murray in his corner as coach,” he added.

(Somdev Devvarman is the expert on the Extraaa Serve show on Sony Sports Ten network for the Australian Open 2025 from January 12 to 26)