There’s quite a bit Somdev Devvarman, Sumit Nagal’s typically coach, typically adviser, all-times pal and present host in Chennai, can relate to with the 25-year-old. Devvarman was the India singles No 1 and a career-high world No 62 earlier than a shoulder surgical procedure in 2012 noticed his rating plummet to the 600s. It took him solely a 12 months, nevertheless, to get again into the highest 100.
Nagal was the India singles No 1, near the highest 100 and the primary Indian singles professional to win a Grand Slam fundamental draw match since Devvarman earlier than a hip surgical procedure in 2021 kickstarted one other rankings freefall. It has been greater than a 12 months, although, and Nagal nonetheless finds himself ranked 509.
Removed from that India No 1 tag which, in the mean time, is not too flattering anyway at a lowly 306 in a mirrored image of the nation’s depleted singles tank that the likes of Devvarman have been in a position to enrich regardless of damage setbacks.
No surprise the now-retired 37-year-old had phrases of warning for an upbeat Nagal constructive of a “increase bam” return to court docket final 12 months put up surgical procedure. “Som was the one man who was like, ‘man, chill out. You make it sound very simple. It isn’t going to be’,” Nagal mentioned.
That is all a part of their tennis speak throughout the dinner desk that, Devvarman reckons, is a key ingredient of teaching, a task he is typically performed for Nagal since becoming a member of his academy’s setup in Germany two years in the past. These chats have been every day and over home-cooked meals as Nagal checked into Devvarman’s residence forward of this week’s ATP Challenger in Chennai. These chats have additionally, prior to now, touched upon the present state of Indian tennis.
“Will we focus on issues that could possibly be higher general—within the federation, in Davis Cup, with tennis in India? After all, we do. We’re gamers, and we clearly have robust emotions,” Devvarman mentioned. “We focus on it, however we don’t obsess over it. We’d moderately concentrate on ourselves.”
That has been heightened prior to now week with the 2 spending that rather more time collectively. Nagal’s feeling higher about his recreation than within the final couple of injury-troubled years. It’s exhibiting this season up to now. The previous world No 122 ran Serbia’s 54th-ranked Filip Krajinovic shut (4-6, 6-4, 4-6) within the first spherical of the ATP Tata Open Maharashtra as a wildcard, introduced India to one-all towards Denmark of their Davis Cup tie with a rallying singles victory and had set factors towards the world No 9 Holger Rune within the reverse.
(Nagal has certified for the principle attract Chennai this week, the place he faces Britain’s Ryan Peniston, the No 4 seed, within the first spherical on Tuesday.)
The sooner shut losses are robust, however a part of the method of the laborious climb again up once more for Nagal. “One of many fundamental targets is for the man to play the remainder of the 12 months damage free, after which see the place you stand,” Devvarman mentioned. “We’re making an attempt to get him again to that 150 (rating), after which into the highest 100. He has the power, however that’ll take some time. And for that to occur, he must change into a significantly better, extra mature, a extra full participant. He recognises that.”
Nagal additionally sees that within the man he’s sharing the roof with presently and whom he considers “like household”.
“It is so attention-grabbing to choose his (Devvarman’s) brains on tennis and attempt to adapt that on court docket. As a result of what he had when he was enjoying, I do not,” Nagal mentioned.
“He was a really sharp and sensible participant. I’m a extra explosive participant. He was a man who’d put on you down, make balls, work out a approach to beat you and work in your weak point. I’m studying that half from him.”
Like he did by means of final 12 months that making a comeback from surgical procedure isn’t any cakewalk. Since his return in April after six months away, Nagal has made one Challenger quarter-final, shedding much more than profitable. He now not feels “horrible on court docket” like he did enjoying by means of the hip difficulty in 2021, though the defeats and continued drip in rating can get demoralising.
“He simply has to remain affected person,” Devvarman mentioned. “Generally it’s important to simply remind your self that it is a lengthy recreation. And it’s every day work, someday at a time.”
It’s not been all tennis speak between the 2 in Chennai, although. There’s loads of “trash speak”— “Thank god it’s only a week”, Devvarman mentioned of sharing the house with Nagal—aside from watching TV and video games of tennis. The enjoyable bits are when the gang—Nagal and Devvarman have widespread associates within the metropolis—will get collectively at residence within the evenings. “It’s a blast,” Devvarman mentioned.
The variations floor once they sit within the automotive and browse the playlist. For Devvarman, Nagal’s music is, nicely, “not music”.
“That’s the issue,” Nagal mentioned. “His music style and my style is solar and moon. Once I hearken to my music, he complains and after we hearken to his, I complain.”