Bopanna aims for another great week at Tata Open Maharashtra

The
former
World
No.
3
feels
Ramkumar’s
energy
and
passion
allows
him
to
play
his
best
tennis
and
is
looking
forward
to
having
another
great
week
in
Pune.

“I
have
watched
him
grow
as
a
player
whether
it’s
in
Davis
Cup
or
other
tournaments.
If
there
was
some
advice
I
could
give
him,
I
have
always
helped
him
trying
to
see
where
he
can
improve.
I
got
to
know
him
off
the
court
really
well
and
that
camaraderie
being
on
the
court
just
helped
us
really
do
well,”
Bopanna
said
during
a
virtual
press
conference
as
he
gears
up
for
his
fourth
appearance
at
the
tournament.

Bopanna
and
Ramkumar
clinched
the
title
in
Adelaide
earlier
in
January
in
their
maiden
outing
together
and
will
play
against
American
duo
of
Jamie
Cerretani
and
Nicholas
Monroe
in
the
opening
round
at
the
fourth
edition
of
South
Asia’s
only
ATP
250
Tour
event,
which
is
organised
by
the
Maharashtra
State
Lawn
Tennis
Association.

“We
both
served
really
well
in
Adelaide
and
that’s
key
for
a
good
successful
partnership.
I
think
if
Ram
and
I
can
serve
well,
that
will
always
put
pressure
on
the
opponents.
Every
team
out
there
has
a
fantastic
chance
to
win
the
title.
We
just
have
to
focus
on
our
game
and
take
one
match
at
a
time,”
he
further
added.

The
ace
Indian
tennis
player
is
delighted
to
have
the
prestigious
event
back
this
year
with
its
fourth
edition
and
said
it’s
crucial
to
have
such
tournaments
to
give
our
players
opportunities.

“I’m
really
excited
to
be
back
playing
here.
It’s
unfortunate
that
fans
can’t
come
out
and
watch
because
of
the
situation.
But
I
think
it’s
really
great
that
this
tournament
is
conducted
this
year,”
the
2010
US
open
men’s
doubles
runner-up
said.

Further
emphasising
on
the
importance
of
having
big
tournaments
in
the
country,
the
veteran
doubles
player
added,
“We
need
ATP
events
because
there
are
opportunities.
I
have
seen
in
a
lot
of
tournaments
where
somebody
who’s
150
or
200
gets
a
chance
as
a
wildcard
and
gets
a
breakthrough
because
ATP
events
are
the
ones
with
bigger
points,
better
opportunity
to
have
a
run.
For
the
players,
just
to
understand
and
watch
live
tennis,
watch
top
players
play,
makes
a
big
difference,”
he
said.

Bopanna,
who
lifted
the
doubles
title
at
the
tournament’s
second
edition,
playing
with
Divij
Sharan,
also
cited
an
example
of
former
Indian
star
singles
player
Somdev
Devvarman,
who
emerged
runner-up
in
2009
at
the
country’s
one
of
oldest
sporting
events
and
saw
making
impressive
progress
in
his
career
thereafter.

The
41-year-old
experienced
campaigner
also
commented
on
more
participation
of
singles
players
in
doubles,
saying
it
helps
them
improve
their
game
in
singles.
“Lot
of
singles
players
play
doubles
to
improve
their
game.
I’m
playing
with
[Denis]
Shapovalov,
he’s
somebody
who
really
enjoys
playing
doubles.
Simultaneously
he’s
learning
so
much
whether
it’s
accuracy
on
returns
or
volleys
which
helps
him
so
much
in
singles,”
the
Bengaluru
native
concluded.

The
Tata
Open
Maharashtra
is
being
owned
by
IMG
and
operated
by
RISE
Worldwide
in
India.

Source:
Media
Release