India might not have any singles participant in the principle draw or the qualifiers on the 2023 Australian Open, a forgettable first in six years, however the nation could have six promising future stars within the Juniors singles draw, hoping to develop into the primary from India to win a junior title at a significant since Yuki Bhambri’s feat on the Melbourne Park in 2009. Manas Dhamne will definitely be the cynosure for India, after having impressed in his maiden ATP essential draw look on the Tata Open Maharashtra earlier this month. And regardless of a loss in straight units to 107-ranked Michael Mmoh, former India tennis participant Gaurav Natekar was totally impressed with the 15-year-old, predicting that he would be the “torch-bearer for Indian tennis” sooner or later.
Enjoying his first ever ATP match, by advantage of being handed a wildcard by the organisers, on the centre court docket, with the gang behind him and towards an opponent who has the expertise of taking part in on the Grand Slam degree, Manas confirmed completely no nerve. What impressed the viewers was his fearless model of tennis which helped him bounce again from 1-5 down within the second set to interrupt serve and make it 4-5. He ultimately misplaced 2-6, 4-6.
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Natekar has been a witness to Manas’ rise by the ranks from the early days on condition that his spouse Arati Ponnappa, additionally a former tennis ace, had mentored the Pune boy for some time and therefore believes the reigning junior Asia/Oceania champion has the power to finish India’s gloomy days in singles tennis.
“Manas Dhamne, who’s 15 years outdated. He’s from Pune. He was coached just a little bit by my spouse, who can be an ex-India No.1 participant. We noticed him play right here and he had a really stable first match in Tata Open. He’s now coaching in Italy and managed by IMG and he’s clearly doing the best issues. Manas is certainly a expertise. I simply hope that he’s in a position to keep focus. He definitely has acquired the best crew round him. However I’d undoubtedly say that Manas goes to be the torch-bearer for Indian tennis within the years to come back,” Natekar, who was on commentating duties on the Tata Open, stated throughout a digital interplay on Wednesday, organised by Sony Sports activities.
Manas, who’s presently 76th within the ITF World Junior Rankings, will make his junior Grand Slam essential draw debut within the Australian Open. The Junior singles draw will start from January 21 onwards.
Additional addressing the current state of Indian singles tennis and with no participant from the nation even within the high 300, Natekar backed Sumit Nagal to be among the many first to interrupt into the highest 100. Natekar’s remark comes days after Nagal made a powerful return in Tata Open after an injury-laden 2022, albeit in a dropping trigger.
“I do not wish to pessimistic however I do not assume we actually have a single participant within the top-300. Sumit Nagal, who’s ranked someplace in 500 and has come out of an extended damage layoff, I noticed him on the Tata Open and had a great match towards Krajinovic. I believe if anyone has an opportunity of climbing quick it’s Sumit, supplied he stays damage free. However I will probably be very stunned if anyone this 12 months cracks into the highest 100 in singles in India,” he stated.
[Watch the LIVE coverage of Australian Open 2023 on Sony Sports Ten 2, Sony Sports Ten 5 (English) & Sony Sports Ten 3 (Hindi) channels starting from 16th January 2023.]