PUNE: Yuki Bhambri has faced an unusually long period of inactivity. While he lightheartedly suggests that everyone at home is fed up with his constant presence—since they anticipated he'd be back on tour within weeks—the 18-month hiatus has been a serious struggle. He hasn't competed since his first-round loss at the Antwerp ATP in October 2018. His knee issues surfaced during the Surbiton Challenger, and by the Queen's tournament, he was barely mobile, though he still managed a victory over Taylor Fritz before losing to Milos Raonic. As Wimbledon approached, the inflammation worsened. During a short break, he did the absolute bare minimum in practice. He felt that knowing it was his last event for a while made the pain more bearable than facing a full season of injury. He limited his training to basic rhythm work with coach Stephen Koon and some light doubles practice to keep his feel for the ball. Remarkably, he even took a set from Thomas Fabbiano before losing in the opening round. When asked why he didn't stop sooner, he explained that it was his first Wimbledon—a dream he'd chased his entire life. He was willing to play even with severe limitations because the desire to be there outweighed the pain. After consulting doctors, he felt confident that he wasn't risking a catastrophic injury like a ligament tear. Regarding the 'Big 3's' proposal to create a fund for lower-ranked players during the Covid-19 crisis, Bhambri noted that the idea isn't universally welcomed. He mentioned that many players have doubts, suggesting that the funds would be better spent on frontline healthcare workers and laborers rather than on fellow competitors. Instead, Bhambri argues that players should unite to demand a larger slice of the prize money from Grand Slams and Masters events. He believes the focus should be on increasing payouts for qualifiers and early-round participants—the 'back end' of the tournament—rather than adding more millions to a winner's check that is already substantial. While the pandemic highlighted structural failures within Indian tennis, Bhambri chose not to focus on those shortcomings.
“I think everybody is sick of me being home,” he jokes. “No one is used to having me around for this long. Everybody expected me to be there for a few weeks and back off again.”
But being away from tennis for 18 months and continuing is no laughing matter. Bhambri has not played a match since his first round loss in the Antwerp ATP event in October 2018.
The knee started troubling Bhambri when he began the grass season with the Surbiton Challenger.
“By the time Queen’s came, I was pretty much playing on one leg,” the Delhi lad said.
He still went on to beat Taylor Fritz in the second round of the prestigious ATP event, losing to Milos Raonic in the next.
The knee had swollen by the time Wimbledon arrived. He had a two week break, during when he could practise “bare minimum”.
“It was going to be the last tournament for a while. It is easier when you know it is one tournament, rather than having to play out a whole season,” he said.
“I literally hit with my coach (Stephen Koon) on one side of the court, just to make sure I had my rhythm and feel.
“Then I practised a little bit playing doubles with my doubles friends, just getting the feel of my serve and hitting grounds, volleying and my returns. But bare minimum.”
Incredibly, he would take a set off Thomas Fabbiano before losing in the first round.
With so much pain and suffering, couldn’t have he stopped?
“It was because it’s Wimbledon, my first appearance. It is something you had worked (for) almost your whole life and finally when you get a taste of it, you would do it with one leg and one hand tied to your back.
“It was about bearing the pain. I spoke to doctors, they said it can’t get worse. I wasn’t going to do if it was ligament tear or such that could get worse.”
NOT IN FAVOUR OF BIG 3 PLAN
Bhambri said not everyone on the Tour was in favour of the Big 3’s idea to create a fund to help the lower-ranked players cope with the Covid-19 disruption.
“I think it’s difficult to push forward with what they have done. From what I have heard, there are a lot of players who have reservations about it.
“People would be actually happier to give the money to people who are fighting in the frontline, the health workers, or the labourers, people who require help, rather than random tennis players around the world whom you are competing with.”
Instead, Bhambri said players should come together and bargain for increased share of the prize pot from the Grand Slams and other major tournaments.
“I think the best way is to try to increase the prize money now. It is peanuts to what the most of the tour earns, or the revenue that the Grand Slams and the Masters generate.
“You have to increase the back end of the tournaments, not add another million dollars to the winner. It’s $3.5mn (for the Grand Slam winner), don’t think it matters anymore.
“It should go to the qualifiers, winners of the first-fourth round in Slams. That is much better than the one time payout of five-ten thousand dollars.”
The pandemic has also exposed the lack of system in Indian tennis. Bhambri, however, refused to dwell on the negatives.