The Bangalore Open 2008 of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Tour in the City has been able to raise a fair share of interest among the otherwise cricket-loving nation. Many are of the opinion that holding these tournaments encourages tennis and the City must be host to more such sporting events.

After cricket, tennis, say experts, is coming up as the next big sport in the country. Not just as a lifestyle game that it is known for, but also on the professional front. And this phenomenon, says Krishna Bhupathi of Tennis Village, a training academy in the City, has been accelerated since Sania Mirza took centrestage. “The year 2003 and 2004 saw a considerable dip in the number of quality tennis players that could take on the game at the international level. From 2005 onwards the growth graph has been steadily rising.”

If cricket is predominantly for men, tennis, say many young girls, is a sport that gives them the opportunity to prove their might. “It is an endurance game that requires immense stamina and physical fitness. But that apart, I see it as one of the very few games that can elevate me as a sportsperson,” says Vidya, an avid tennis player. 
It is then unfortunate that Karnataka, especially Bangalore, does seem to lack the talent that can take on the competition at the international levels despite having youngsters who have the potential and the aspiration to excel in the sport.

On the other hand, Krishna does share that the game by itself is very popular in all academies in the City. It merely needs a few amendments to be able to produce the kind of players that an international tournament requires.

For those like Supriya and Nivedita, the lifestyle element attached to tennis is one of the reasons to play it. “It is a popular game these days and though we don’t intend to train at a professional level, we enjoy the game thoroughly,” they say.