Wimbledon 2025: A Decade Since Indian Triumphs
As Wimbledon 2025 approaches, it marks a full decade since an Indian athlete celebrated victory at the prestigious tournament. In 2015, Sania Mirza and Leander Paes clinched the mixed and men’s doubles championships alongside Martina Hingis, while Sumit Nagal secured the junior boys’ doubles title with his Vietnamese counterpart Lý Hoàng Nam. These accomplishments were viewed as significant milestones in Indian tennis, particularly given the historically lackluster singles performances at major tournaments. However, the past few years have seen a stark decline, especially at Wimbledon, where no Indian has made substantial progress since that triumphant year.
Current Landscape of Indian Tennis
In the latest Championships, Indian players struggled to make an impact on the grass courts. Sumit Nagal, the sole participant in the senior singles event, was eliminated in the opening round of the qualifiers. Rohan Bopanna and his doubles partner were ousted in the first round of men’s doubles, with fellow competitors N Sriram Balaji and Rithvik Choudary Bollipalli exiting in the second round as Yuki Bhambri became the last remaining Indian, ultimately falling in the third round.
Reflections from Vijay Amritraj
These experiences reflect the current landscape of Indian tennis, which Indian tennis legend Vijay Amritraj acknowledges used to be much brighter. He reminisced about a different era when India had significant achievements in singles at Wimbledon, recalling his participation in 16 Championships and two quarterfinal appearances. Notably, in the 1960s, Ramanathan Krishnan not only earned a seeding of No 4 but also reached the semi-finals twice.
“Commitment is paramount for anyone pursuing a career in tennis,” Amritraj asserted during a Media Day session organized by JioStar. “Hard work can bridge the gap left by a lack of natural talent, but talent alone cannot fill the void left by insufficient effort.”
At present, the highest-ranked Indian players in singles are Sumit Nagal, ranking No 296, and Shrivalli Bhamidipaty at No 322, numbers that raise concerns for the future of tennis in India.
“Sports are inherently individualistic, requiring immense personal dedication. If an athlete puts in 110% effort consistently while also taking care of their body, they increase their chances of success tremendously. Conversely, a lack of effort guarantees failure,” Amritraj noted.
Aiming for the Elite
Aiming for the top 100 or 50, Amritraj is not merely discussing the potential for winning titles; he is focused on striving to be regarded among the world’s elite competitors. Today, Indian players are often just aiming to qualify, a sharp contrast to their past dominance, particularly in the Davis Cup.
Reflecting on his own experiences, Amritraj recalled a significant match from his career: celebrating the 40th anniversary of defeating Yannick Noah on Centre Court at Wimbledon, the only time an Indian has featured in singles in that venue since then. Although Sania Mirza participated and faced Svetlana Kuznetsova in 2005, the gap in Indian representation on Centre Court highlights a concerning trend.
Call for Systemic Overhaul
Once considered the leading nation in Asia in tennis, India now finds itself in a different position. Amritraj advocates for a systemic overhaul to cultivate a new generation of players who can consistently enter the top 100.
“The foundation of success lies in hard work and an unwavering work ethic. If players embark on their journey with the ambition of eventually winning a Grand Slam, combined with relentless dedication, they open the door for potential success in tennis, ultimately defining what it takes to excel in the sport.”
