An Interview with Indian Tennis ace Divij Sharan: 'We are aiming to qualify for the US Open'

SK: What do you think were the key differences between the grass at Roehampton and Wimbledon?

DS: The grass courts at Roehampton are pretty nice but Wimbledon is a class apart. Play-ability wise I felt the courts at Roehampton were slightly faster than the ones at Wimbledon.

SK: Purav and you are a relatively new pair. When did the two of you realise that the partnership has big game potential?

DS: Well we have been playing together for almost a year now. Both of us are serious about doubles and have been working towards getting better.

Sharan: Aiming high

SK: Divij, you were running a successful partnership with Vishnu Vardhan for many years. What prompted the separation last year after the victory in Bangkok?

DS: Vishnu is a really close friend and we’ve had a great run playing doubles together for many years. In fact I made my Davis Cup debut partnering him against New Zealand in 2012. I have also had a successful stint with Yuki for a while last year, but both of them are still focused on singles. They have had to play particular tournaments keeping in mind their singles ranking, which would not have necessarily helped my doubles ranking.

SK: You are currently ranked inside the top 100 and Purav isn’t too far behind inside the 120 mark. As a partnership, what are your plans and goals for the year?

DS: Our current goal is to make the cut for the US Open and be inside top 70 by the end of the year so that we can target to play all the majors and most of the tour events next year.

SK: Can you discuss a little about the economic side of being a doubles player on the challenger circuit? Are the rewards adequate to meet expenses and make a decent living?

DS: Doubles doesn’t pay so well specially at the Challenger and Futures level. One would have to make finals of a challenger to break even. The goal is to do well in the Challenger circuit and to move on to the tour events and grand slams where you can actually make a living by playing doubles.

SK: Please tell us about your support team.

DS: My tennis career is a result of a lot of people’s effort and support. My family has played a massive role in me pursuing my dream.

My coach Aditya Sachdeva, trainer Nasir Ahmad and physio Vimal Sharma work hard with me for me to be able to compete in all the tournaments I play. All the trainers and coaches I have worked with in the past are also very supportive and are always there to motivate and guide me.

SK: Do you have sponsors? And what kind of financial support does AITA provide to help your life on the road?

DS: I don’t have any sponsors and fund my trips on my own. I am on the pay rolls of Indian Oil Corporation and that is a big help towards my expenses.

SK: You are 27 now, having spent close to 20 years working around tennis courts. Please reflect on your dreams and your career so far.

DS: I love playing tennis. If given a choice, I don’t think I would have lived my life any other way. I have had the opportunity to represent India and travel extensively all over the world. I have consistently been moving up in the rankings and hope to make it to the top very soon.

SK: What is the planned schedule in the next few months of the hard court season?

DS: I am playing a tour event in Bogota this week. I plan to play ATP challengers in and around US in the coming few weeks. My schedule for later will depend on how I do in these tournaments.

Good luck Divij. We have been really touched by the honesty in your responses. It was an absolute pleasure speaking with you. Sporstkeeda wishes you a successful season ahead and let us hope that you get inside high enough to enjoy a full season on the tour next year.