Somdev surprised his Grand Slam debut came in doubles
By IANSThursday, July 2, 2009
NEW DELHI - Somdev Devvarman, back from his maiden stint at the Wimbledon tennis championships, says he is amused that his Grand Slam debut happened to be in the doubles event.
Somdev, who turned professional last year, made a first round exit in the singles qualifiers of the Wimbledon but made it to the doubles main draw with South African partner and good friend Kevin Anderson.
However, the two were unlucky to run into stalwarts Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles in the very first round. But they did manage to take a set off the more experienced pair.
“It is an honour to play in Wimbledon but frankly I never expected to make my Slam debut in doubles. I lost in the singles qualifying but we fought very hard to qualify for the doubles. That gave me something to look forward to,” said Somdev, who was in the city Friday.
Somedev, who partnering Prakash Amritraj lost to Bhupathi and Knowles in the Chennai Open doubles first round, said it was an “unbelievable luck” that he met the two again in the Wimbledon doubles opener.
“I could not help smiling when I saw the draw. It was an unbelievable luck, I mean I knew Mahesh so well! But then that happens in tennis. I felt we had a good chance,” the 24-year-old said.
“Prakash and I had played them in Chennai and it was a close match. In the Wimbledon, we began well to take the first set. We had our chances in the second set and were even a break up in the fourth. It was disappointing to lose.”
Somdev created waves first by reaching Chennai Open final and then spearheading the Indian win in the Davis Cup tie against Chinese Taipei earlier this year, but faced a series of early exits in the Challenger tournaments thereafter.
“I have to keep in mind that it’s been only a year since I have turned professional. I played a lot of close matches and I am learning to take things in perspective,” the India No.1 said.
Somdev, who will leave for Agartala Friday morning, will next play at Aptos challenger in California later this month.
