Chennai | Tennis legend Vijay Amritraj has urged India's aspiring players to prioritise singles over doubles, saying the ultimate goal should be to break into the world's top 50, compete regularly in Grand Slams and win ATP titles rather than merely participate on the tour.
The former world No. 16 said young players must aspire to emulate the achievements of great singles champions such as Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams, stressing that success in tennis is ultimately measured by rankings, titles and performances at the sport's biggest events.
"You're not starting the game of tennis to be the greatest doubles player or the greatest mixed doubles player. You're starting the game of tennis to be the next Federer or the next Nadal or the next Serena Williams.
"That's why you start the game of tennis if you want to be at that level, to be competitive at the world-class level. So, I think that itself should be the focus regarding where you want to get to in your sport," Amritraj told PTI on Monday.
Amritraj, who reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals and US Open semi-finals, said Indian tennis needs players consistently featuring in all four Grand Slams, adding that breaking into the top 100 and then progressing towards the top 50 should be the benchmark for evaluating a player's career.
When asked why the likes of Leander Paes and Sania Mirza opted to switch from singles to doubles at the peak of their careers, the Wimbledon singles quarter-finalist said, "I don't know what was going through their minds. I have no idea what the interest level was. I have no idea what their dream was, how long they wanted to play.
"There's so many questions that need to be answered that only the coach, the parent, and the player would know between the three of them. And that's what they decided to do. And they chose to do what they ultimately did." The US Open semi finalist pointed out that it was necessary for any tennis player to get into the top 100 in ATP rankings and do well in Grand Slams.
"When your career is looked at over the years, you look at the number of titles you won, the number of times you played the Grand Slams, how far you've gotten in the Grand Slams, and if you were fortunate enough to win one. That's what made Djokovic, Nadal, and Federer so great. Sixty-six majors between the three of them," Amritraj observed.
"We have to get into the Grand Slams first. Absolutely. I go to Wimbledon every year and we need to have someone consistently playing in all the four Grand Slams. And that would be the yardstick. No question."
Djokovic can win his record extending 25th Grand Slam
Talking about the legendary Novak Djokovic, Amritraj said the 39-year-old Serb can win a record extending 25th major at the Wimbledon beginning later this month.
"It's incredible that he still has that desire to win that extra Grand Slam. So I think on grass, he has a chance. No question about it. Alcaraz is missing. But you really have to watch the other guys. Lots of other guys are coming along very quickly.
"So I think, yes, Sinner is a frontrunner. No question. But Djokovic is right behind. His passion is there. His desire is there. His work ethic is incredible." Comparing the three greats of the modern era, Amritraj added: "Federer plays tennis like it's ballet. He's so graceful on a court. So we all enjoy watching Federer play.
"Nadal, on the other hand, plays well behind the baseline. He chases down everything. There is no give up on any point. He has a never-say-die spirit. And Djokovic, on the other hand, we call him Spider-Man for a reason, because he stretches into the corner.
"And I've never seen anyone hit an offensive shot so well from a defensive position. So each of them bring some incredible talent and shots to the game," said Amritraj, who was recently conferred with the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian honour.