<p>Somdev Devvarman is back from the shoulder injury and along with him comes the question whether he can regain his place in the top 100. The former India No 1 is not unmindful of the apprehensions but feels he is on track to be at his best. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Once perched at 62nd spot in the world, he has slipped to 534th following a right shoulder injury that kept him off action for nearly nine months. The comeback is going to be far from easy but Somdev is prepared to grind it out. <br /><br />“When I was 24-25 years, the million dollar question was whether I can break into the top 100. I know the question will be back again and that’s one of the targets — breaking back in,” said Somdev, who was here at the DLTA complex on Friday. The US-based Indian admitted he was still not match sharp. “I am match fit but being match sharp is different.<br /><br /> I am not as sharp as I used to be but I feel I am quite close. It’s just a question of time and working day in and day out,” he said.<br /><br />“I feel unless you are in top four in the world, it's difficult for you to work for some particular tournament for a comeback. For us, it’s more about playing tournaments. If I play in 30 tournaments, I may be good in 10, poor in 10 and average in the next 10.”<br />Somdev is gearing for yet another gruelling training during the off-season. He is eager to go through the paces with former world No 1 and recently retired Andy Roddick, whom he credited for speeding his progress on the circuit. <br /><br />“I am thankful to him for bringing me to the professional aspect of the game and speeding up my progress. I have nothing but gratitude for him. He has told me he is not going to lose a set off me in the off-season,” he said. “This year I will be approaching the off-season a lot fresher having played a lot lesser. My expectations, too, has changed. I know I am coming back from a surgery and I need to be careful even in picking my tournaments.”<br /><br /> The two-time NCAA champion, however, is not too worried about his low ranking, which will now mean coming through the qualifying rounds. <br /><br /> “I am preparing as hard as I can. I will be using my protective ranking wherever I can and make the most of the opportunities. I am not too worried about the number of matches I will have to play. I know when I will reach a certain level, rankings and money will take care of themselves,” said Somdev who is hoping to use his protective ranking of 85 at the 2013 Australian Open.<br /><br />He also praised the young Indian team that won the Davis Cup tie against New Zealand in Chandigarh last month. “The young guys have started to do well which is a good thing,” said the 27-year-old who left for Vienna on Friday evening to play in Erste Bank Open. <br /></p>
<p>Somdev Devvarman is back from the shoulder injury and along with him comes the question whether he can regain his place in the top 100. The former India No 1 is not unmindful of the apprehensions but feels he is on track to be at his best. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Once perched at 62nd spot in the world, he has slipped to 534th following a right shoulder injury that kept him off action for nearly nine months. The comeback is going to be far from easy but Somdev is prepared to grind it out. <br /><br />“When I was 24-25 years, the million dollar question was whether I can break into the top 100. I know the question will be back again and that’s one of the targets — breaking back in,” said Somdev, who was here at the DLTA complex on Friday. The US-based Indian admitted he was still not match sharp. “I am match fit but being match sharp is different.<br /><br /> I am not as sharp as I used to be but I feel I am quite close. It’s just a question of time and working day in and day out,” he said.<br /><br />“I feel unless you are in top four in the world, it's difficult for you to work for some particular tournament for a comeback. For us, it’s more about playing tournaments. If I play in 30 tournaments, I may be good in 10, poor in 10 and average in the next 10.”<br />Somdev is gearing for yet another gruelling training during the off-season. He is eager to go through the paces with former world No 1 and recently retired Andy Roddick, whom he credited for speeding his progress on the circuit. <br /><br />“I am thankful to him for bringing me to the professional aspect of the game and speeding up my progress. I have nothing but gratitude for him. He has told me he is not going to lose a set off me in the off-season,” he said. “This year I will be approaching the off-season a lot fresher having played a lot lesser. My expectations, too, has changed. I know I am coming back from a surgery and I need to be careful even in picking my tournaments.”<br /><br /> The two-time NCAA champion, however, is not too worried about his low ranking, which will now mean coming through the qualifying rounds. <br /><br /> “I am preparing as hard as I can. I will be using my protective ranking wherever I can and make the most of the opportunities. I am not too worried about the number of matches I will have to play. I know when I will reach a certain level, rankings and money will take care of themselves,” said Somdev who is hoping to use his protective ranking of 85 at the 2013 Australian Open.<br /><br />He also praised the young Indian team that won the Davis Cup tie against New Zealand in Chandigarh last month. “The young guys have started to do well which is a good thing,” said the 27-year-old who left for Vienna on Friday evening to play in Erste Bank Open. <br /></p>
