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Ramkumar Ramanathan is the emerging tennis star of India. Displaying immense talent and skill, he is consistently bringing laurels for India.
Did you know that Bill Gates is his favourite hero and Prison Break is his favourite serial? Today we explore several such interesting facets of his life and the interesting journey he has had so far.
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ramkumar Ramanathan |
| Age | 24 years |
| Sport Category | Tennis ( Right-handed - two-handed backhand) |
| Date of Birth | 8 November 1994 |
| Hometown | Chennai, India |
| Height | 1.88 m |
| Weight | 80 kg |
| Coach | Juan Balcells & Sergio Casal |
| Ranking | Highest ranking: 111 (30 July 2018), Current ranking: 128 (18 February 2019) |
Ramkumar started playing tennis when he was just five years old. His father, Ramanathan, is a former badminton player. His parents are involved in the textile business. He has a sister, Uma.
Ramkumar’s parents have played a huge part in shaping his career by supporting him in various situations. The family had to make certain sacrifices as well, and Ramkumar credits his success to their love and support.
Ramkumar joined the Sanchez-Casal Academy in Spain when he was 15. By the year 2009, he turned into a professional tennis player.
Ramkumar Ramanathan’s tennis journey is truly incredible. Image Source: Twitter
Ramkumar announced his entry into the tennis world by beating then Indian No. 1 Somdev Devvarman in the first round of the 2014 Chennai Open. Though he lost the second round match, he displayed immense potential in the tournament.
In 2015, Ramkumar reached the finals of the Mersin Cup in Turkey in the doubles event. He also entered the Malaysian Open in 2015 but lost out in the first round itself. In 2016, he successfully reached the quarterfinals of the Chennai Open.
In 2017, another important milestone for him was the Tallahassee Challenger final. At the Antalya Open, he defeated a top-10 player, Dominic Thiem in the second round and continued his stellar run by entering the finals of the Nielsen Pro Tennis Championship. Ramkumar also entered the qualifying draw of the US Open, but unfortunately lost in the second round.
In November 2018, he won the much-awaited ATP Challenger title at the Pune Challenger. Also, he won the title at the doubles event with Vijay Sundar Prashanth.
There have been some ups and downs in the journey, but Ramkumar is very optimistic. He has charted out his plan for 2019 and working on various tactics to up his game.
“I should start taking small breaks. Maybe play 25 tournaments instead of 35. Losing close matches is tough and when you a fresh, you can focus on those big points and moments better. Although playing tournaments is also good. I am right there, very close. I believe I can get into the top 100 and top 50, it’s just time. I am putting in the work and am focused,” he told PTI.
Ramkumar is also working on his fitness levels. He is currently training under Ramji Srinivasan, the former Indian cricket team trainer. He is working on strengthening his glutes for much-needed force during movements. Working on his backhand and side hand movements has also helped Ramkumar improve his game.
| Year | Singles | Doubles |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 133 | 254 |
| 2017 | 137 | 393 |
| 2016 | 249 | 229 |
| 2015 | 260 | 282 |
| 2014 | 215 | 267 |
| 2013 | 704 | 498 |
| 2012 | 1036 | 891 |
| 2011 | 926 | 964 |
Ramkumar has earned total prize money of US$551,681 in his career. In February 2019, he earned $52,340 at the Hall of Fame, Newport.
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