Divij Sharan thread

[jaydeep]

Thanks Arun for updating on Divij's injury worry ... I was worrying and hoping that its not becoz of his prolonged shoulder injury.

Jaydeep.

[PKBasu]

Good to see Divij in the SF of the India F5 Futures in Chandigarh this week, signalling a clear return to form after recent injury worries, etc. Of course, he also made the final of the Pakistan F2 Futures in October 2007, and made SFs in two $15K Futures last year (in Kuwait and Nigeria) apart from a couple of QFs in Futures (India, Britain). But he hasn't quite repeated the great performance in the India Satellites in August 2006 (where he won leg 2 and the Master's leg, beating Aqeel Khan twice in doing so). Sadly, Satellites no longer exist, but doing well in Futures is the closest substitute...Time for Divij to make the move to the next level -- hopefully by notching up several match victories in the India Challengers in May.

[amr090]

Divij plays a largely serve and volley game, so its tough thesee days for him to have consistent success on slower surfaces and powerful baseliners...or if his serve is off

[jayakris]

But it is not THAT late for him to buid up additional strengths in his game.  He needs to have the mental toughness to do it, that's all - I think he just might do it.  I really really wish he had come to US colleges, where he would certainly have learned to grind from the baseline (not clay or grass tennis, but the patience to grind and accuracy in ground strokes, which are needed on hard courts too) .. It is too late for college now.  But he can still play a bunch of clay events, spend a lot of practice time, hit rallies endlessly, develop stamina etc.  If he has the basic mechanics for ground strokes right, and is really lacking in the mental/tactical details due to lack of experience, this can be done.  If he was taught poor stroke mechanics and is mostly a helter-skelter serve and volleyer, it is probably very difficult.  I have not seen Divij play, to say anything on this.

He still has time to make himself a much more well-rounded player, if he focuses in the next 2-3 years.

Jay

[amr090]

I've yet to see him as well...I'm hoping to convince him to come to the US for a stint, it is somewhat in the cards for sometime this year from what he told me.  I'm just hoping he comes to DC for the Legg Mason ATP, maybe I can get to see him play then.

[suresh]

Divij is not a pure serve and volley player, I think -- the one match that I saw him play against Vishnu, he played from the baseline when he should have been volleying a lot more!

[amr090]

from what he told me he mainly serves and volleys a lot...but i dont know ive never seen him play...

[amr090]

JUst talked to Divij for a while.  He's planning on finishing exams end of May and beginnign play again.  Hes planning to play 3 futures in England, the 2 challengers in India and then is open to suggestions on what to do next.  Some of you guys that love, researching possible schedules...can you guys post some ideas in terms of his most efficient schedule plan?

Also, we talked and he decided he's going to contact Harsh and Sunil (who he is hitting with now in Delhi) and try to see if they can possibly plan a long term schedule for the 3 of them to travel together.

[sameerph]

That means he plans to play 3 futures in Great Britain on grass in the weeks of 7th/ 14th /28th July which is good considering his serve & volley type of game. In the period before that ( & after 2 Delhi challengers in May )there are not too many tournaments in Asia . He ( or other Indians ) can probably try out 2 $15 k futures in Iran in the weeks of 16 / 23 June.   

Or if he is going to Britain , then he can try out in 2 $ 15 k futures in Ireland in the weeks of 16th/23rd June which is followed by a Dublin challenger in week of 30th June. These are all on carpet which is the sort of fast surface which could suit his game.

Of course this is just based on his ranking & his style of play. No idea if the costs involved in staying for 2 /3 weeks at these places is affordable to him .

 

[S_K_S]

Following Felixstowe (see Tournament thread) Divij is going to Frinton

[sameerph]

At $ 15k Great Britain F10 , Frinton on Sea (Grass)

Singles-

[R1] SHARAN, Divij (IND,742) v. (4) SEATOR, Edward (GBR,503)

Doubles -

[R1] (4) SHARAN Divij (IND)/ SADECKY Alexander (SUI) v. BRADSHAW Timothy (GBR) / BRASSINGTON Kyle(GBR)

[sameerph]

At $ 15k Great Britain F10 , Frinton on Sea (Grass)

Singles-

[R1] SHARAN, Divij (IND,742) l. (4) SEATOR, Edward (GBR,503) 62 46 16

Doubles -

[R1] (4) SHARAN Divij (IND)/ SADECKY Alexander (SUI) d. BRADSHAW Timothy (GBR) / BRASSINGTON Kyle(GBR) 76(3) 64

[suresh]

Come on Divij, you should be winning these matches on grass 

[sameerph]

At $ 15k Great Britain F10 , Frinton on Sea (Grass)

[QF] BREWER (GBR) / CAMPBELL (GBR) defeated SADECKY (SUI) / SHARAN (IND) (4) 6-4 6-4

So, I suppose that is the end of a bit of wasted trip for Divij with nothing much earned. IMO, next time Divij should plan properly playing few more weeks at a stretch so that he adjust & produce some better results.

[jaydeep]

Updating in Divij thread as Omkara correctly pointed out ..

Divij is in doubles semis with his Ukranian partner.

At $15K+H Ivory Coast F1 futures, Abidjan, Cote D'Ivoire

[R1] SHARAN Divij (IND,702) bt (WC) ANIBIE Sylvain (CIV,1359) 76(4) 62

[R2] SHARAN Divij (IND,702) vs DE BONNEVIE Philippe (FRA,461)

Doubles
[R1] BONDARENKO Vladislav (UKR)/ SHARAN Divij (IND) bt VANDENBULCKE Yannick (BEL)/ WITMEUR Alec (BEL) 63 64
[QF] BONDARENKO Vladislav (UKR)/ SHARAN Divij (IND) bt FRANSEN Stephan (NED)/ GOVAERTS Bart (BEL) 16 64 10(8)

[SF] BONDARENKO Vladislav (UKR)/ SHARAN Divij (IND) vs BEGEMANN Andre (GER)/ TAVARES Leonardo (POR)