2009 U.S. Open

[PKBasu]

Jay, I have asked Nirupama-ji (Mankad, nee Vasant) and she mentioned that she only played Mixed Doubles at Wimbledon (with Anand Amritraj), and singles qualifiers. Her best years were in the late-60s, just after the Open era had begun -- so she didn't get to participate in main draw singles action before the Open era. Kiran Bedi and Susan Das (her contemporaries) were a bit younger, and also had the same problem.

[PKBasu]

So play is indeed suspended with Somdev up 6-3, 5-2, 15-15 and serving for the match. I hope Somdev comes back fully warmed up and ready to finish off the match by quickly winning the 3 more points he needs for the victory. The suspension helps his opponent, but Somdev mustn't let the young Pole see even a small chink of light when the game resumes at 2pm on Saturday.

[michael]

History delayed but WILL NOT be denied. Somdev will need just three minutes to enter main draw. Great moment for Indian tennis has arrived. Congratulations in advance.

[PKBasu]

As I said previously:

... Never in the Open era has there been Indian representation in the main draw of BOTH men's and women's singles at the US Open (or Wimbledon and the French Open, for that matter). We are on the brink of history, indeed, today. (And I hope Sania's wrist holds up; she is already in New York, btw, so I presume she thinks she is ready to play).

Note my caveats: in the Open era, there has been no previous occasion when an Indian citizen was in the main draw of BOTH men's and women's singles. Of course, in the past there were many occasions (see the Golden Oldies thread) when multiple Indian men played in the main draw of a Slam. In the 1960s, Ramanathan Krishnan, Premjit Lall and Jaideep Mukherjea played together many times (and occasionally Akhtar Ali joined them). In 1973, there were 6 Indians in the main draw of men's singles at Wimbledon (Vijay and Anand Amritraj, Jasjit Singh, Jaideep and Chiradeep Mukherjea, Akshai Misra), Vijay made the QF, Jaideep beat Anand in R2 and made the PQF (both losing to eventual winner Jan Kodes), four Indians made R2 (including Chiradeep) and Premjit lost to Borg in R1 after the longest tiebreak in Wimbledon history (since equalled but not exceeded in number of games).

[PKBasu]

In 1972, four Indians were in the main draw of BOTH Wimbledon and the US Open. Vijay and Anand played both, Premjit and Jaideep were in the Wimbledon main draw while Jasjit Singh and Sashi Menon were in the US Open main draw. Nobody (other than Australians, and the occasional player looking to complete the Grand Slam) took the AO seriously until the 1980s, and unfortunately Indian players ignored it (despite the geographical proximity).

[PKBasu]

Through most of Ramesh Krishnan's career, there were at least two Indians in the main draw of the Slams (he and Vijay Amritraj), with Sashi Menon and Anand Amritraj also occasionally figuring in the main draw. In 1981, Ramesh made the QF and Vijay made R3 of the US Open. Vijay made the QF at Wimbledon that year, and Sashi Menon was also in the main draw. In 1989, Zeeshan Ali joined Ramesh in the singles main draw at Wimbledon. Of course, in all of the above years there were no Indian women in the singles main draw of Slams.

[Rajiv]

saniapower, actually Nirupama Sanjeev (Vaidyanathan before marriage) was not the first INdian woman in grand slams. There were others, the most famous being her namesake, Nirupama Mankad (or Nirupama Vasanth before marriage) - who had played several wimbledons. The famous cop, the incomprable Kiran Bedi, also played at Wimbledon, though I am not sure if it was juniors or seniors in the late 60s. But that was all before the open era..

The first Indian-born woman to play a grand slam in the open era, I believe, was Laxmi Poruri who was born in Guntur/AP but had gone to US later and played under the US colors then.

Jay

strangely in this forum over the years on many a occasion , nirupama , kiran bedi , laxmi pururi have cropped up regular intervals,
but have never seen Amruta Alhuwalia being ever mentioned.
I too have sketchy details on her due to lack of information flowing in the 80's, but what little I know was that a Scandinavian country was her home base while playing on the tour and later became Amrita Balakrishnan after marriage , she had her forays on the circuit but all the details are blur considering lack of information comming out in those days
, and in the late 70's/80's she was women equivalent of Vijay for India on the women's tour , probably Jay,Pkb or anyone have some information on her.

[Saniapower]

Nirupama Mankad nee Vasant (born January 17, 1947 in Karachi, now in Pakistan) is a former Indian tennis player.
Nirupama Mankad is the daughter of G. Vasant, a leading tennis player in India in his time. Her husbands name is Ashok Mankad, a former Indian Test cricketer. Their son Harsh Mankad is an Indian Davis Cup player.
Mankad won the Asian Women's tennis championship in 1965 at the age of 17. She played Wimbledon junior event in 1965 and partnered Anand Amritraj in the mixed doubles event in 1971, reaching the second round. She was India's top ranked tennis player between 1965 and 1978, winning the national championship seven times during this time. She won the Indian government's Arjuna award in 1980.

Laxmi Poruri (born November 9, 1972 in Guntur, India) has the distinction of being the first Indian-American female to play professional tennis on the WTA tour in the modern era. She grew up in Southern California where, from a very young age, she was known as a tennis prodigy. In 1986, she won the Orange Bowl, beating Monica Seles in the final. At age 15, she played her first US Open where she lost to Katerina Maleeva in the 2nd round. She attended Stanford University from 1990-1994 on a full athletic scholarship and was a seven time All-American athlete. After graduating from Stanford, Poruri played professional tennis for several years. Upon retiring from professional tennis, Poruri taught English for a year in Boston, MA. Poruri then attended McGill University in Canada, where she received her MBA. Poruri worked on Wall Street for two years before returning to California in 2004.

So Nirupama Mankad(Vasant) only played junior wimbledon and not senior(Singles), Laxmi Poruri and Shikha Uberoi played under US color. So Isnt Nirupama Vaidyanathan(Sanjeev) thus becomes the 1st INdian women to play senior singles in any grand slam in the open era??

[sameerph]

So, we are so close to having a mens player in the main draw of a grand slam since 2002. I am sure Somdev will finish the job today quickly.

Go Somi.

[jaydeep]

Very dominating performance by Somi ... It would be great if match got finish yesterday but Buji will definitly finish job when match get continue.

Jaydeep

[S_K_S]

What happened with the Sunday start for the main draw? I thought the decision by the French and th Americans was the best thing to happen in tennis for years. Unfortunate that the US Open is reverting back to a Monday start.

[narora]

looking at the draw it seems Somdev will play R1 against Yen-Hsun Lu TPE coz the guess is he is last in qualifying draw and thats the last Qualifier spot - unless its a lottery again? but first things first - win the 3 points to go into R1 today at 2pm.

BTW, was noone in NYC to watch qualifying - perhaps Somdev's game is at a good balance of retrieving and offense.

[vparam]

looking at the draw it seems Somdev will play R1 against Yen-Hsun Lu TPE coz the guess is he is last in qualifying draw and thats the last Qualifier spot - unless its a lottery again? but first things first - win the 3 points to go into R1 today at 2pm.

He can play anyone. It's done by a lottery.

[narora]

6-3,6-2 Congrats Somi !- all the best for your 1st GS - Wishing you 7 more wins here!

[kishorJ]

Congrats somdev. great job. all the best for main draw. may you never have to play qualifying in grand slams again.