Aces up his sleeve

Chennai: Vijay Amritraj’s remarkable talent as a tennis player not only put India on the global map, but also paved the way for the country’s entry into what was considered an elitist sport. Today, he continues to champion the sport through his tennis league, the only platform that levels the playing field between international players and young Indian talent. “I had a tennis career of 25 years, and in that time, I travelled across the world. And wherever I went, I was always passionate about promoting any event or activity that showcases my country,” says Vijay, adding, “I brought the Chennai Open to India 20 years ago and till date, it remains the only international tennis event in India. I felt the country needs to see world-class tennis.” And this thought resulted in the very successful Champions Tennis League, which is owned and operated by his company Second Serve Pvt. Ltd. What makes this league unique is the fact that it is the only professional tennis league in India where team captains are grand slam champions and the players are among the best in the world.

“We have been able to bring top international male and female tennis stars to participate in an India-centric league. Indian Davis Cup players alongside these great players would be extremely exciting to watch and cheer on for each city. The two young players, a boy and a girl, would fill out the roster, and for me this is particularly important as it gives youngsters an opportunity to learn from this amazing experience,” he says. “The intention was to take tennis in India to new levels,” explains Vijay. “The CTL, which started last year, is played across six cities across India. My goal is eventually to take it to eight cities. It will do great things to Indian tennis,” he says with conviction. “It’s about time the country produced a new tennis champion and my concern is that the possibility seems to be getting further and further away. It is very important to create an environment where we can produce more world class players.”

And if anyone who knows a thing or two about producing tennis champions, it has to be the Amritrajs. Five members of the family have played tennis at an international level. So is there a family secret recipe for success that they have discovered? “I would say my mother discovered it. We just took it forward,” says Vijay Amritraj, who has always credited his mother, Maggie, for his success. “I was a sickly child and I wasn’t particularly good at studies either. It was my mother’s dedication that’s gotten me to where I am today.” Despite having to work full-time, Vijay says his mother would wake up before 5 a.m. every day and then wake the boys up for a run. She would follow alongside in the car, keeping an eye on them all the way. After the run, she would take her sons for tennis lessons, drop them to school, and managed to wrap up her chores in time to meet them at the school gate at 3.30 p.m. sharp -- to once again drive them to tennis lessons. “Those were days when even a pair of Bata shoes that cost Rs 10 was a luxury, not to mention the cost of tennis lessons for us, but that’s the kind of dedication it takes to create excellence,” reminisces Vijay. So what’s next? His exuberance is palpable as he says, “There is so much happening, so much on the cards that I’m so excited about. I turn 62 in December, and it all feels so fresh! Like it happened yesterday. I am so fortunate to have my family, my boys and my bride of 30 years by my side. They are with me for all that I do and I couldn’t ask for anything more.”

Vijay reminisces about growing up in Chennai. “I have so many great memories of growing up in Chennai, like Spencer Plaza at Christmas, all done up in lights. We used to go there as kids and eat the local homemade ice cream. My folks would take us for drives along the Marina, and past Fort St George, and take us to see the Ripon building and to the beach on weekends – I still remember the feel of the sand under our feet, eating the pattani sundal , flying a kite.. All these memories are special because we did everything as a family. Weekends and holidays were never about sitting home and watching TV.” He says he enjoys the timelessness of the city. “I remember this time in the 70’s, when a dear friend of mine visited from the US. He went around the city with me taking in the sights and sounds and even back then, he commented on how safe the city was and how history is preserved so well here. And 40 years later, it remains unchanged - a quality very few other cities can boast of,” he reveals.