Nitin Kirtane Never Backed Down 

The ageless Nitin Kirtane, who still plays competitively, shares his thoughts about tennis and life.

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Asian games 1998 will forever be remembered by every Indian as the games that brought the country unprecedented glory. The games showed India and the world a budding tennis talent–the left-handed Nitin Kirtane. From there on, this junior doubles finalist, along with Mahesh Bhupathi in the 1992 Wimbledon, never looked back.

The Sports Column caught up with Kirtane recently, who (today) is still playing reputable tennis in his mid-forties.

Ravi: Thank you for giving us your valuable time. Tell us about your background and what brought you to the sport. Who were your role models?

Nitin: Thanks for having me on The Sports Column. I started playing tennis as a hobby when I was five years old. Being from Pune, we lived near a very famous sports club, Deccan Gymkhana Club, which has a lovely sports infrastructure. My parents were keen on both my brother and me playing the sport. My cousin joined tennis, too. So all three of us stepped onto the tennis court. My role models in tennis were John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors. But my favorite sports athlete is the basketballer Michael Jordan.

Ravi: What role did Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association (MSLTA) play during your early days? What challenges did you face?

Nitin: MSLTA played an important role in my career. I started playing on the MSLTA Boys Under-10 circuit and later became the Under-10’s #1-ranked player. As an organization, MSLTA has done an excellent job concerning Junior tennis. It is also one of the few sports organization that gives yearly scholarships to top-ranked and national players. The biggest challenge I faced as a youngster was travel and lodging. Until about my sub-junior days, I stayed with relatives in Mumbai and traveled by train everywhere. My mom traveled, too.

Ravi: Where strategies/aspects of your training unique? How did you develop as an athlete?

Nitin: Physical fitness and proper court strategy are the primary–if not the only–solutions to playing tennis successfully.

For that, I thank my physical trainer and coach, Mihir Teranikar, with whom I have been training since 1989. He knows my body and has developed a systematic training routine for me that includes new and advanced training methods. A player will succeed if he or she is physically fit!

Ravi: How do you see tennis evolving in your state and our country? 

Nitin: Tennis is evolving, and its popularity has increased–not only in Maharashtra but all over the country. The All-India Tennis Association has played an essential role in the development of the game, and corporate sponsorships have helped as well. For years, the corporate world sponsored cricket only. Now it is looking beyond one sport, and that has helped tennis flourish in India.

Ravi: How do you manage your tour? Can you share the challenges you’ve faced with the getting your tour sponsored?

Nitin: Travelling has always been a tough part of the sport in India and internationally. A tennis player has to handle everything, from scheduling flights to working out lodging, etc. I missed out on getting corporate sponsorships during my career, which meant that I had to do everything on my own with the prize money we made. That has been the bane of the sport in India, But I’m happy to see drastic changes unfold. The central government is playing a critical role in supporting athletes, including with travel funding.

Ravi: To us, the aficionados of the game, the international success of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupati means a lot. What role, if any, did they play in your professional career?

Nitin: Mahesh and Leander are like family to me. I saw them grow into champions. I also played with them, including being on the same Davis Cup team. What a learning experience! Both are super athletes and very down-to- people, as well. Leander, who’s still active on the circuit, is motivation for me to continue playing. Suffice it to say that I learned so much from them–be it on the practice court, in the gym, or by simply watching them play on tour.

Ravi: Representing India in the Davis Cup is something special for any player. It must have been for you, too. What were some of your other memorable wins on the tennis pitch?

Nitin: Yes, it was a memorable experience playing for India in the Davis Cup. I’ve had other memorable international experiences, too. But my most memorable match was in the 2002 National Games in Hyderabad where the Games were played before 20,000 spectators. I played in the men’s singles finals and won! I was so happy that I tore off my shirt and burst into tears. What’s even more remarkable about that day is that my opponent, P. Vishal, was a local boy and the crowd was rooting for him.

Ravi: What is your philosophy in sports and life?

Nitin: My philosophy in sports and life is simple.

Ravi: How would you encourage and preach good sportsmanship?

Nitin: Good sportsmanship is essential! Young players look to senior players for how to conduct themselves on the court. On the court, I’m very competitiv but off it I’m a friend to all. I’m also happy to say that I’ve guided a lot of youngsters in their careers.

Ravi: Lastly, what message would you give to the younger generation about ethics and character?

Nitin: Be fair in life, both on- and off-the-court. Win the hearts of fellow players–not only with your game–but with your character.