Ramanathan Krishnan, India’s best-ever tennis player.

In the 1960s the distinction between the amateurs and the professionals in tennis was very thoroughly followed. The professionals would go around the world playing in their own circuit, which was unofficially known as the ‘Jack Kramer Circus’. Top pros of the period were Pancho Gonsalves, Lew Hoad and Ken Rosewall.

 On the other hand the doors to Wimbledon and Davis Cup as well as the other prominent tennis championships were the exclusive prerogative of the amateurs. The top amateurs of the time were not inferior to these pros.

 In fact the best of amateurs, when they converted themselves to ‘professional’ status, invariably were among the best of pros as well. Men like Rod Laver, Roy Emerson, Manuel Santana and Neale Fraser dominated the amateur tennis scenario in the 1960s.

In such a heady atmosphere India too had a representative, Ramanathan Krishnan. He was very deservingly ranked world number 4 at the time by virtue of recording regular victories against the best of oppositions in international championships all over the world. No other Indian has ever been ranked as high as maestro ‘Krish’.

 Krishnan’s strength lay in his court craft and temperament. With a tennis racquet in hand, he gave the impression of being a sorcerer with a magic wand. He never seemed to hurt the ball, but merely caress it. At a time when players were concentrating hard on a booming service and power-play, Krishnan was an outstanding exception. He relied on soft touches and placements. His approach was not of an aggressive killer, but of a silent sage out to prove everybody wrong by his sacred touch.

Even his physique defied the accepted norms. He was not lean and athletic. Nor did he possess the tough appearance of a champion sportsman. No bulging muscles protruded; nor did the jaws square up to size up an opponent.

Rather Ramanathan Krishnan’s big, burly figure created an impression of a contented man in retirement. Content he certainly was with his craft and confidence, with his skill and strategy. But he himself was in no kind of retirement. On the contrary, he would be active enough to send others into a dizzy form of reverie.

Amazing shots from improbable angles and amazing turnarounds from almost lost causes were his forte. From 2 sets down, the way he defeated Thomas Koch of Brazil in a Davis Cup encounter at Calcutta’s South Club lawns is still spoken of with awe by all those who were fortunate to get a seat in the packed stands at Woodburn Park.

Born in Chennai on 11^th April, 1937, he learnt the nuances of the game while a student at Loyola College. In 1954 he won the Junior Wimbledon title by beating Ashley Cooper, who was to win the Senior Wimbledon crown in 1958.

Krishnan had the habit of defeating the very best of international players in almost all major championships. But the Wimbledon title eluded him forever. Twice he reached the semi final at Wimbledon, only to lose to the ultimate winner on both occasions. Ironically he had defeated both the winners, Fraser and Laver, at the Queen’s Club just days prior to the respective Wimbledon championships.

 No Indian player, before or since, has been ranked higher than he was in the international rankings. Unfortunately in his time tennis had not become an Olympic sports discipline. Krishnan would have walked away with Olympic medals galore. But then can one fight one’s own destiny?

Initially with Naresh Kumar, he formed a deadly doubles combination, which did wonders for India. Later he combined with the highly talented Jaideep Mukerjea and brought off magnificent victories. Especially the one against the world number one pair of John Newcombe and Tony Roche.

This brilliant victory was achieved in the Davis Cup challenge round in 1966 in the opponent’s own lair, Australia. Krishnan along with Naresh Kumar, Jaideep Mukherjea and Premjit Lal were model-sportsmen in court craft and in conduct on and off the field.

Apart from the man’s superb court skills, it was his bearing that left a permanent imprint etched in the minds of tennis followers the world over. Cool and composed, his laid back approach was distinctively different from the rest. The execution of his shots had a remarkable ring of beauty attached to it. The beauty of simplicity.

Whatever he did, he did with an innate sense of ease. Nothing and nobody could disrupt this unique style of his. His intelligent approach, his strategic planning, his constantly evolving tactics made him a thorough professional in the high-flying amateur arena of tennis.  Truly, a remarkable artist. A champion in a different mould.

Never needed publicity agents, influential parents or physical trainers. Never fought with partners on or off the courts. His conduct and speech reflected marital bliss. The wide reach of his racquet never bothered to reach the media moghuls. He was content in his own cocoon of skills and devotion.

Ramanathan Krishnan proved to the world of sports that even the softest of gentlemen can overcome the gamesmanship of sly opponents; that a vegetarian diet was no impediment to sporting success; that one does not need media support to become a champion. He was a rare sportsman. A rare human being. Shall we see his like again?