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Pune’s Avnit Bendre is coaching his way into playing top tennis
Bendre qualifies, gets into the main draw as lucky loser and then scripts a stunning victory in the finals
At the age of 24 you will find most tennis players in India focussing on establishing a ranking, but here is Anvit Bendre, who claims to be a coach first, then the player.
Bendre defeated Kunal Anand 7-5, 1-6, 7-6 (7-5) to lift the singles title in Rs 3 lakh AITA tennis tournament, which concluded at the Poona Club last week.
It was double delight for Bendre as he also lifted the doubles title, partnering Rohan Bhatia. The duo defeated Parikshit Somani and Suresh Dakshineshwar 2-6, 6-4, 10-5.
“I am a coach,” is the answer by Bendre, to the question, where do you train?
Bendre adds, “I train players at Adar Poonawalla Maharashtra Tennis Academy and am playing a tournament after four months. I last played the nationals in New Delhi (Fenesta Open).”
Pune’s Bendre started his coaching career in April 2018.
“Finance was the issue, and I also had injury issues with my right shoulder. So for me to continue with tennis I got into coaching.”
“I am very good reader of the game. Once I had a discussion with my close friend Aniket Wakankar about coaching, but it was just casual. Last year, the family scenario was such that I had to start coaching,” Bendre explains.
Bendre has trained with Nandan Bal for 10 years.
“I started my tennis career under coach Nandan Bal. His contribution has been immense in whatever I am today. Currently, at the academy, I have Hemant Bendrey and Kedar Shah as coaches and both have given me permission to compete in tournaments,” adds Bendre, who now might play the AITA Rs 5 lakh tournament in Mumbai, which starts on April 15.
“After winning this recent tournament, I have now got a chance to play in the main draw in Mumbai so I am looking forward to it,” explains Bendre, who saved a total of 18 match points throughout the tournament.
“Four match points in the singles final. I was 5-3 down in the third set and from there I managed to halt Anand. Other match points I saved during the doubles matches,” says Bendre, who has also won two Futures doubles titles in 2015.
“In the 2016, I got into six doubles finals, but always ended up on the runners-up side. On five occasions, my partner was Kunal Anand,” Bendre says.
Tennis is a costly sports and to continue playing, it needs financial support. Bendre firmly believes that having sponsors can do wonders to one’s career.
“Sponsors play a very big role these days,” explains Bendre.
Bendre was full of praise for Arjun Kadhe and Ankita Raina, Pune-based players doing well on the national and international stage. “I have played with both. It feels good that they are going strong with their careers,” he says.
