6 days ago
Ribhav first from Chd to climb to no. 1 rank in U-16 tennis
Chandigarh: In a proud moment for Chandigarh and Indian tennis, 14-year-old Ribhav Saroha climbed to the pinnacle of junior tennis by becoming the All-India Rank No. 1 in the U-16 category as on June 16.
Currently ranked no. 2, Ribhav is the first player trained entirely in Chandigarh to reach this national milestone.
The young player trains under Marco Seruca, a former Portuguese Davis Cup player and now a full-time coach in Chandigarh.
"Some days, I split my training into three hours in the morning and two in the evening. Other days, it's a solid five-hour stretch, depending on what Marco sir plans," said Ribhav. "I'm hoping to continue this form and make a strong transition into the men's circuit soon."
Ribhav's admiration for the sport isn't limited to just the technique, he's even mirrored his hero, Italian tennis star Jannik Sinner, by sporting a hairstyle just like his. Ribhav credits his coach for not only building his game but shaping his mindset.
Talking about his philosophy, Marco said, "It's very simple. Tennis is a sport that is based on time. Gaining time to perform the best quality shots you can and taking time away from the opponent.
Ultimately, it's about the rhythm of the play."
Talking of the tennis ecosystem in India, Marco said, "India has just as much talent and potential as any other country. However, parents here are more focused on academic careers and building a safety net rather than letting them take risks." He emphasized how consistency with a coach is important for the players to realise their full potential and that due to limitations of infrastructure and methodology, a player's growth can be hampered.
