Mumbai Open- The Final Wrap-Up
The Beginning Of A New Dream

Two days have passed after the country’s biggest Tennis Tournament, as it is described, is over. Then why I am writing here?

It’s a note to look back at what had happened over the last fortnight.

It’s a note to look at what we have got and what not.

It’s a note to look forward at a future that every Tennis Fan, especially an Indian one, wants to see shining brightly.

After Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Kolkata, it was Mumbai’s turn to host a Tennis Feast. Unlike these Cities and some other places like Pune, which have some Tennis culture, Mumbai the epicentre of Media and the Financial Capital of India has been on a backtrack. The reason may be because mainly cricket rules here. This was ruled out by the Indo-Pak Davis Cup tie and the City’s hidden passion for the game of Tennis came into light with recently concluded Kingfisher Airlines ATP Mumbai Open.

The tournament is a hit here. Of course, not as big hit as ICC Championship Trophy, still a hit one. No, don’t judge by the low crowds during the first few days. Whatever crowds we had were real Tennis-passionates. They came even though it was a week of Navaratri, and when ‘Dnadia’ was pulling huge masses, and even when it’s Ramadan going on. The fact shows that the City-mad-for-Cricket has some madness for Tennis too…

On court we had some great Tennis-Time. Though it was not so big an event like a Grand-slam or Masters, we had some big upsets- right from round one. Carlos Moya loosing to young Argentinean Juan Martin Del Portro, Rohan Bopanna and Mustafa Ghouse beating top seeds Alexander Peya and Bjorn Phau, Dimitry’s race to the Finals… all are just unforgetables.

There were some more moments to cherish for the Fans, the Organizers, the Players and all- most anticipated being the clash between two sensational pairs: Leander Paes – Aisam Qureshi and Mahesh Bhupathi- Mario Ancic. This match was on the same day when the Police statement on 7/11 Blasts in the city came and the Diplomatic desks in India and Pakistan set to fire. What appealed me most was the cheers the Cute-Qureshi from Pakistan got from the crowds (No mention- Girls…) whenever he played a good shot and that was a bit often. The same man from the neighbourhood had got huge applause during the Davis Cup tie at the venue. Surely, after Cricket and Hockey, it’s Tennis that is melting the ice- a sporting spirit of Mumbai that goes beyond the boundaries…

Another surprising moment of humility came on the rain-interrupted Monday when Doubles Final was shifted to the Court One and to avoid the further delay, Mario Ancic, his Coach, took hold of super-soppers. Mahesh Bhupathi, his wife Shweta and other Globosport Officials also joined hands with the grounds staff and volunteers. This inspired others and soon there were people wiping water off the Court. The Spirit, “The game must go on”, got a match going, which everyone had thought nearly cancelled.

On the organizers’ part, it was an overall success, with some minute flaws which media criticized overly. However they are regretted as it was the first time event here.

The weather… although it created a mess of the Finals, the Monsoon remained silent for the week and rained in the end as if it wanted the players to stay in the city a bit longer. The worst factor was not of rain but humidity. It was killing- as usual and some players including Del Portro and Ancic. But as Tursunov had said, “Your immune system does tend to give away in this kind of weather. But the weather was the same for all the players and everyone has to adjust to it.”

The tournament will survive for at least 3 years as the sponsors have promised and that’s a good news by Dr. Vijay Mallya- the owner of KFA and the man who is known for his interest in sports.

For Indians it was an absolute treat. The local players got exposure to some top-level Tennis. Some used it to their benefit, some couldn’t… but it will definitely help them.

Surely we need some more tournaments like this to explore the hidden talent in a country of over 100 Crores - 1/6th of the total world population.

The Globosports and MAesh Bhupathi with his personal top-level contacts with ATP-WTA players and officials have taken up this cause seriously. So more and more top players are coming to India and like many others, I hope that within next few years we may have Roger and Rafa or Roger and Roddic playing in the Finals in Mumbai… (Nice dream, isn’t it?)

So this year it’s over. But this is not an end. This is perhaps, the start of a new era in Indian Tennis and Indian Sports and of course another epoch in the life of a vibrant city that never stops in any case- the City of Dreams- the City of Mumbai…

See You Next Year In MUMBAI…