RAMANATHAN KRISHNAN

Two-time Wimbledon semifinalist and Junior Wimbledon champion Ramanathan Krishnan is a legend in Indian Tennis history. Born in 1937, Ramanathan Krishnan was passionate about Tennis even as a 10-year-old, when he played at the Kalkatora stadium in New Delhi.

Playing in his first tournament under the name of
T R Kannan, he later changed his name to Ramanathan Krishnan on his arrival in Chennai. His father,
T K Ramanathan, seeing his son's talent and passion for the game, resigned his job and took up full time coaching for his son.

Ramanathan Krishnan went on to become the National Champion, and won the Asian championship and the Wimbledon junior championship. He has enjoyed a career high of being ranked
World Number 3.

He reached the semifinals of Wimbledon in 1960. In the following year he was seeded number four, but lost this time to Rod Laver who went on to win the championship.

Ramanathan Krishnan played in the Indian Davis Cup team from 1953 to 1969 and has beaten players of world class like Neale Fraser, Rod Laver and Roy Emerson. One of his best matches in terms of effort and significance was the last reverse singles against the Brazilian Koch, which he won after he was a set down, to place India in the challenger round of Davis Cup (1966).

His number three world rank and his two Wimbledon semifinal appearances are still to be bettered by any other Indian Tennis player to date.

RAMESH KRISHNAN

Eight singles titles, one doubles titles and career prize money totalling $1,263,130 over one and a half decades on Tennis courts. That deserves more than a mention. But this hardly seems surprising, considering the illustrious achievements of his father Ramanathan Krishnan.

Inspired by his father, this genial and soft-spoken gentleman has kept the Indian flag flying high with his motivated performances in the Davis Cup not only as a player but also in his present status as the Indian team’s non-playing captain. He may not be equipped with the fastest serve in the world or the fastest moves on the tennis court, but his lionhearted approach won him both accolades and titles.

One of Ramesh Krishnan's most memorable triumphs was in the Davis Cup quarterfinals against France in 1993. It was the fag end of his career and he signed off in style. He won the crucial doubles match in the company of the then inexperienced Leander Paes and turned the tie in India's favour.

He is presently running a Tennis academy in Chennai set up on the lines of similar institutions in the United States. He helps youngsters who are inspired by the Leanders and Bhupathis of today, to realize potential and make dreams come true.

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