From Casual Hits to True Passion: My Tennis Story My first brush with tennis was back in 7th grade when my father was posted in Ludhiana. There was something about the game that intrigued me, but I didn’t think much of it at the time. Soon after, my father was transferred, and my interests shifted. I moved on to shooting 10m air pistol and stuck with it through high school. Then came college—a phase that began with uncertainty. I took a drop year without accomplishing much, and just as I started at a private college, COVID hit. Somewhere along the way, my weight soared to 125 kgs. Life felt stuck—until tennis found me again. There was a tennis court near our house where my father played regularly. I started tagging along, initially just to shed some weight. At first, it was nothing more than exercise. But slowly, it became the best part of my day. The time I spent on the court gave me clarity and a sense of happiness that was hard to find elsewhere. Learning, Competing, and Connecting Through Tennis As my time on the court grew, so did my interest in the professional side of tennis. I hadn’t followed the sport closely since Federer’s epic runs at Wimbledon and the Australian Open in 2017. Reconnecting with tennis, I discovered its intricacies—ATP points, tournament formats, and the relentless competition that defines the sport. Playing a few local tournaments made me truly appreciate how physically and mentally demanding tennis is. Every point requires speed, stamina, focus, and emotional control. Competing humbled me—and gave me deep respect for professionals who grind it out, often with little financial reward outside the top ranks. That struggle made me realize how much passion tennis really demands. After lockdowns lifted and college returned to some normalcy, tennis became my way to connect—not just with others, but with myself. I found friendships, competition, fitness, and, most importantly, joy on the court. No matter what was happening in my life, I always tried to find a way to keep playing. What began as a casual interest evolved into something I truly love—not because I’m the best, but because tennis gives me something real to hold on to.
