'When I picked up a racket in Pune, never did I think I would be here
Our vision at World Tennis is simple: tennis starts locally, grows and succeeds globally. This is a philosophy shared by India’s Arnav Paparkar whose ripples within the tennis world are turning into crashing waves following his latest Wimbledon triumph.
Paparkar, who also reached the third round at the Roland Garros Junior Championships in June, is now into round three at the Junior Championships, Wimbledon following a stunning 6-2 6-3 victory over Keaton Hance of the United States.
Given his opponent – Hance is currently at a career-high No. 3 in the World Tennis Tour boys’ rankings – and the setting, Paparkar rates this triumph as the finest of his career. He will now play the round of 16 at a Junior Grand Slam for the first time.
There is a bigger picture, wider context for the 18-year-old, who first learned to play the game on what sounds something of a ramshackled court at a now defunct tennis club in Pune.
“When I was a young boy, at the age of six, I used to swim and there was a tennis court right beside the pool,” said Paparkar. “I used to watch people play tennis and one day I was invited to join in – and it started from there.
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“When I picked up a racket that day on that clay court that was not really a proper court, never did I think I would be in surroundings like this at Wimbledon or any of the other Grand Slams I have played. This is a dream come true.
“Honestly, when I picked up that racket, I didn’t think I would be here – ever. And thinking about it now, I am really proud of myself for making it this far. I want to achieve more but, in this moment, I do feel proud and things do feel different.”
Paparkar has certainly come a long way since picking up that racket. He started playing World Tennis Tour Juniors events in 2021, initially within India but then internationally as well.
He won singles titles at J30 and J60 tournaments – events considered to be entry-level for the Tour – before enjoying something of a breakthrough in April this year when he conquered all before him at J200 Kuala Lumpur.
The teenager has also gained experienced within the professional ranks on the World Tennis Tour, following a similar pattern to his junior career where he started nationally before spreading his wings.
“In my opinion, you have to play every level of tournament,” added Paparkar. “I started playing around my city, then state, then nationally and finally internationally. When you start your journey, I believe you can’t skip a level. You have to go through the levels.”
Start locally, grow and succeed globally.
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Paparkar was a member of the Grand Slam Player Development Programme Regional Touring Team – administered by World Tennis and the Asian Tennis Federation – that travelled around India last year.
Each year, groups of talented players from underrepresented nations are invited to join Touring Teams. The Touring Team programme is funded by the four Grand Slams through the Grand Slam Player Development Programme and operated by World Tennis.
The players offered tours tend to be aged between 14 and 18. They then travel as a team, have access to high-performance coaches and are exposed to competition that significantly boosts their development.
The Touring Team programme provides crucial support for talented players who might otherwise be unable to compete at the level they do. It also enables opportunities that financial constraints may otherwise prevent.
The Touring Team proved a helping hand to a player who is making his way in the game and advancing along the player pathway. He is also of a fresh wave of aspiring Indian talent with designs on making its mark on the ATP and WTA Tours.
Indian tennis has enjoyed names with which to conjure: the Amritraj Brothers, Ramesh Krishnan, Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza, while in more recent years Rohan Bopanna and Sumit Nagal.
A new dawn could be about to break.