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Keen to bring rank above 400 to get direct entry into ATP tournaments It's always an honour to represent your country at the highest level. The match I played along side my child- hood hero,Leander will always stay close to my heart - Sunil Kumar Sipaeya by Vinod Kumar
ONE OF Sunil Kumar Sipaeya's dreams came true when he played along with Leander Paes in a doubles match in Davis Cup in 2006. The duo won. Sunil now hopes his hard work will enable him to fulfill his another ambition: to get a direct entry into ATP tournaments. Sunil, 24, is among the few tennis players in the country that stand out for their consistency and fighting spirit. Hailing from Kapurthala, Sunil is ranked 610 in the world, 100 notches higher than his last year's ranking of 710.
Sunil says: "I am feeling strong as a horse and want to take part in as many tournaments as possible. If I am able to bring my rank above 400 by September, things will be a lot easier for me. It will help me get a direct entry into ATP tournaments."
Sunil had a great run in 2006, winning ITF Futures single in Tunisia and ITF Future Doubles in Delhi. He did not let injuries pull him down, realising the significance of making most of opportunities.
Success didn't come easily to this former pupil of Chandigarh Lawn Tennis Association (CLTA). The association took Sunil under its wings at the age of nine under its Rural Development Programme. Sunil toiled hard in the initial stages of his career and faced a lot of problems in meeting the expenditure.
"Apart from your own game, a tennis professional has to take care of his expenditure too. If you have a sponsor, you can concentrate on your game without any pressure," says Sunil. Reebok and Indian Oil are Sunil's sponsors, but it was not so rosy until he started serving aces.
Sunil shot into the limelight when he won the ITF 3rd IYF Central Asian Boys' U-14 singles title in 1996. He won his first national title in 1999 at the age of 16, a feat achieved only by Ramesh Krishnan and Leander Paes.
Now in his sixth year on the professional circuit, Sunil is determined to enter as many events as possible to improve his ranking. "Having a goal to improve your ranking always gives you a boost and makes you raise your game," he says, having continuously played for six weeks.
His best result was two semifinal berths in ITF Fu ture Tournament in China.
Sunil has been part of Indian Davis Cup team on three occasions. He was picked for the first time in 2002, but could not make it to the playing team. He was overlooked for the next five years but was called back to play against Uzbekistan in February 2007. He partnered his childhood hero Leander in a doubles match.
"It's always an honour to represent your country at the highest level. The match I played alongside Leander will always stay close to my heart," says Sunil.
Sunil was also part of the Indian Davis Cup team that lost to Kazakhstan in April 2006, though he did not play in any of the matches.
CLTA director Rajan Kashyap and Leander's father Dr Vece Paes have played a vital role in shaping up Sunil's career. "I owe all my success to Rajan Kashyap and Dr Paes. They both have helped me lot throughout my career and motivated me to perform well," he says, stressing he is working hard on his core strengths: speed and service.
Sunil says: "I am feeling strong as a horse and want to take part in as many tournaments as possible. If I am able to bring my rank above 400 by September, things will be a lot easier for me. It will help me get a direct entry into ATP tournaments."
Sunil had a great run in 2006, winning ITF Futures single in Tunisia and ITF Future Doubles in Delhi. He did not let injuries pull him down, realising the significance of making most of opportunities.
Success didn't come easily to this former pupil of Chandigarh Lawn Tennis Association (CLTA). The association took Sunil under its wings at the age of nine under its Rural Development Programme. Sunil toiled hard in the initial stages of his career and faced a lot of problems in meeting the expenditure.
"Apart from your own game, a tennis professional has to take care of his expenditure too. If you have a sponsor, you can concentrate on your game without any pressure," says Sunil. Reebok and Indian Oil are Sunil's sponsors, but it was not so rosy until he started serving aces.
Sunil shot into the limelight when he won the ITF 3rd IYF Central Asian Boys' U-14 singles title in 1996. He won his first national title in 1999 at the age of 16, a feat achieved only by Ramesh Krishnan and Leander Paes.
Now in his sixth year on the professional circuit, Sunil is determined to enter as many events as possible to improve his ranking. "Having a goal to improve your ranking always gives you a boost and makes you raise your game," he says, having continuously played for six weeks.
His best result was two semifinal berths in ITF Fu ture Tournament in China.
Sunil has been part of Indian Davis Cup team on three occasions. He was picked for the first time in 2002, but could not make it to the playing team. He was overlooked for the next five years but was called back to play against Uzbekistan in February 2007. He partnered his childhood hero Leander in a doubles match.
"It's always an honour to represent your country at the highest level. The match I played alongside Leander will always stay close to my heart," says Sunil.
Sunil was also part of the Indian Davis Cup team that lost to Kazakhstan in April 2006, though he did not play in any of the matches.
CLTA director Rajan Kashyap and Leander's father Dr Vece Paes have played a vital role in shaping up Sunil's career. "I owe all my success to Rajan Kashyap and Dr Paes. They both have helped me lot throughout my career and motivated me to perform well," he says, stressing he is working hard on his core strengths: speed and service.
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