Somdev Devvarman?s decision to take on the AITA has seen a strong support from other tennis players. So far, this united stand has caused heads to turn, and it promises to stay
When it first became apparent that Somdev Devvarman had put forth suggestions for some strong changes for the Indian tennis federation to consider, he came across as a player, who despite playing a professional sport, was concerned with how it is run in the country. Having slipped more than 500 places in his world ranking and unsure of his place in the Davis Cup set-up, the team event in which tennis players represent their country, he still took on the mantle of opposing some archaic set of regulations that the All India Tennis Association (AITA) was following.
As a player of world top-50 potential, who had his personal coach and trainer travelling on the tour with him, and as someone who also received allowances for his team when on national duty, Devvarman did not need to speak for those who didn?t. But the fact that he did raise his voice, and his demands?of more monetary support, comfort and stability, specifically targeted at reserve players, who just turn up at a tie to warm the bench?showed how much it mattered to him that factionism in Indian tennis should become a thing of the past.
Why Devvarman?s efforts were more likely to strike a chord within the players? fraternity was because the way he approached the problem was something that the sport in India had not seen in the past two decades. Unlike the bickering and conspiracy theories of the past of pitting X player against Y?or ?L? against ?M?, as is the norm in Indian tennis, Devvarman worked towards getting as many players on board as he could, and by taking their suggestions ensured they were not just yes-men either. Soon, he had ten other members?largely every active man?s tennis player whose name rings a bell?up in arms to bring about a change.
The most intriguing aspect then of the latest controversy to have hit Indian tennis was not about drawing simple conclusions?whether the federation is right or the players are?but about how from a backdrop of a sport where two players could not see eye to eye, emerged 11, who would not let anything break their unity.
Over the years, Devvarman had had enough of turning up to represent a team which was so apparently divided between the ?Paes camp? and the ?Bhupathi camp?. Having played in a group set-up in the American collegiate system, he failed to understand why team unity was such a far-fetched idea in the Indian context. He decided that one way to remove the divide between players was to write to the federation to change all rules?like business-class travel only for the elite players, different support staff for seniors?that separate one team member from another. One of his letters to the federation even states that all the players are open to decreasing their share of revenue in order to give a greater percentage to the non-playing members at a Davis Cup tie?an idea aimed at making reserve players feel more secure.
However, with the way the issue has taken shape over the past few weeks, with Devvarman not budging despite the federation promising a few changes, he ran the risk of being seen as another disgruntled player who wants to have his own way. But unlike past issues, such as during the Olympics when Mahesh Bhupathi refused to partner Leander Paes and in 2008, when he opposed Paes? Davis Cup captaincy, this time, it is not one player fighting another, with the federation being forced to play referee. All of Devvarman?s demands are endorsed, in writing, by ten other players and the fact that they want all or nothing is not as much an indication of their stubbornness as it is of unprecedented unity.
As the dialogue between the players and the federation intensified, Devvarman realised he could have been an easy target to fall out of favour with the tennis body, his current low ranking being a logical excuse for him to be sidelined from future selection meetings as well, and yet, he and his team decided to stick to their stand. It required great resilience on the part of journeymen Vishnu Vardhan, Yuki Bhambhri and Sanam Singh as well, who, having received financial aid from the federation in the run-up to the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games, were aware that the body might not loosen their purse strings again in the wake of this issue.
This show of unity was so inspirational that it trickled down the ladder to those second in line as well. After the federation found itself incapable of breaching the fortress of these eight players, it knocked on the doors of the next best with an offer few debutantes can refuse?of becoming Davis Cuppers. The easier route for Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan and Sriram Balaji would have been to accept that offer, beat a beatable South Korean team and storm into the limelight as players who averted a crisis. But they, too, resisted the charm of wearing the national flag on their chest and entering the prestigious league of players who have represented the country for a show of solidarity with their fellow mates.
There are some reservations against what the players are asking for. With some demands, such as wanting a particular physio, being labelled as too picky and others like naming a captain being slightly out of line. The players? reason to oppose Zeeshan Ali, the coach which the AITA appointed, was that as someone who was based outside of India for so long, he doesn?t know the players well and has not interacted with them in the past years. But, at the same time, this group of players requested for Anand Amritraj to be their captain, a man who, for decades, has lived in the United States and has never seen the younger lot, who formed the major part of the eight players, in action. The federation?s biggest dilemma in giving the players a specific appointee they ask for was to give out a message that these players can also be selectors and administrators.
But here is Devvarman?s logic. He believes that in the past the tennis players could never have their say when it came to the support staff they received because the various team members were never on the same page. Now that they are, the federation should find it tough to ignore what an entire group is asking for.
Right or not, so far, this united stand has caused heads to turn and has come as a fresh change which promises to stay.
