Tennis: Ramkumar Ramanathan-Saketh Myneni bank on trust for continued success

So close yet so far.

Ramkumar Ramanathan and Saketh Myneni were just one step away from making back-to-back triumphs at the Chennai Open.

But standing in their way were the formidable Japanese duo of Shintaro Mochizuki and Kaito Uesugi, who made light work of the home favourites, winning in straight sets.

The Indian duo remained composed, smiling through the presentation ceremony and graciously engaging with fans who queued up for photographs.

This air of calmness prevails even during matches, and it is part of the reason why they work so well as a pair.

Take the semi-finals, for instance, against tournament top seed Ray Ho and Matthew Christopher Romios.

Deep into the second set tie-breaker, the Indians trailed 1-5. The set was almost in the hands of the Taiwanese-Aussie pair but from there, Ramkumar and Myneni won it 10-8.

Trusting each other's ability

"I think what's clicking for us is that we trust each other's game even when we miss shots," said Ramkumar in a conversation with The Bridge. "He knows what I am capable of and I know what he is capable of.

"We don't doubt ourselves. I think that's the biggest positive that's been working well for us," he added.

His partner Saketh Myneni also shares the same sentiment, reflecting on their synergy and awareness about one another's game.

"We know our strengths and what we need to do together. Doubles is all about getting that chemistry and that's what helps us bond on the court," said Myneni.

The results, speak for themselves.

The duo, who joined hands just over a year ago have so far won three Challenger events.

The first of the three triumphs came at the very same venue one year back, with the 2024 Chennai Open and it was followed by another triumph in the space of a week at the Bengaluru Open challenger event as well.

They also managed to win the 2024 Seoul Open Challenger and now with a runner-up at the Chennai Open Challenger, it can be said that they are picking up right where they left off.

Journey of persistence

The duo's recent success is a testament to years of toil, especially for Ramkumar, whose tennis journey began 25 years ago in this very city.

He credits his father above all for shaping his Tennis career.

Ramathan, a semi-professional whose career was hindered by a lack of support, made sure his son had every opportunity to succeed in tennis.

"If not for my father, I wouldn't have done this. He was the one who put me in tennis and started my journey," said Ramkumar, beaming with pride.

"I now realize how tough it is to become a player, but he took me all over India during my young days, took me to training in the early mornings. I think that's paying off now and I am always grateful towards him," he added.

Just like his father, his home city too bore a lot of importance in Ramkumar's formative years, having shaped his tennis career to where it is now.

"It [Chennai] is my home, having lived here since I was a kid. I have so many fond memories of this very stadium, so I always enjoy coming back to play here, no matter what the competition is," he remarked.

With their growing chemistry and proven track record, Ramkumar and Myneni have established themselves as a formidable duo, and their consistency on the Challenger circuit is a sign of bigger things to come.

The season has just begun, and with more tournaments coming up, they will be aiming to build on their momentum.

As Ramkumar himself puts it: "We still have a long way to go."