Talk about Indian tennis anywhere in the world and connoisseurs immediately think of Chennai. This city has produced many World Class tennis players - Krishnans and Amritrajs - and hosts the only ATP tennis tournament held in South Asia.

(1) History of Tennis in Tamilnadu
(2) Tamilnadu Tennis Association
(3) TNTA Coaching Schools
(4) ADVANCED PLAYER DEVELOPMENT SCHEME
(5) MARG ACADEMY OF RURAL TENNIS (MART)
(6) Coaching scheme for underprivileged children

(1) HISTORY OF TENNIS IN TAMILNADU

After the very first Wimbledon Championships in 1877, tennis caught the fancy of many people across the world. The British colonies, especially, were fascinated with the sport and the first tennis courts appeared in Chennai barely six years after the first Championships. As early as 1883, four tennis courts were laid in Madras Cricket Club (MCC). In January of 1887, a significant incident occurred in the history of tennis in South India - MCC took the initiative and organized the first Lawn Tennis tournament in South India. Two interesting features occurred at this tournament. It had an event for the ladies (only three years earlier in 1884, the first Ladies' Singles event had taken place at the Wimbledon) and the prizes awarded to players were all in cash.

(2) TAMILNADU TENNIS ASSOCIATION

With the growing popularity and appeal of Tennis, associations were being messaged all over the world for the orderly development of the game. In the year 1920, at Lahore, the All India Tennis Association came into being. Six years later, in 1926, the Madras Provincial Lawn Tennis Association was inaugurated, with Hon. Justice E.E. Mack as its first President. The Madras Cricket Club, Madras United Club, and the South Indian Athletic Association were the first amongst the clubs to get affiliated to the Association. The other prominent clubs that played a key role in the development of tennis were Madras Gymkhana Club, Mylapore Club, Cosmopolitan Club, and Clubs in Ooty, Trichy, Madurai and Coimbatore. These Clubs, apart from providing tennis facilities to their members, regularly conducted tournaments that attracted large and enthusiastic crowds.

In the 1940’s, The Madras Corporation made available public courts in the celebrated Egmore Stadium, where all-important tournaments were conducted and regular coaching was also imparted to young players. Madras played a key role in tennis nationally by staging important Davis Cup matches, national level tournaments such as National Hard Court Championships and National Junior Championships, and ITF Satellite and Challenger events. Several international players participated in these tournaments, amongst who were many Wimbledon Champions such as Frank Sedgeman, Jaroslav Drobny, John Newcombe, Neale Fraser, Roy Emerson, Alex Olmedo, and Tony Trabert. In the 1930s, all-time greats like Bill Tilden and Henri Cochet played exhibition matches in Chennai.

Apart from international players, our own R.Krishnan and other top ranked Indian players regularly participated in Chennai tournaments till 1968, when the era of amateur tennis ended, and the era of professional tennis began.

After a modest start, TNTA has grown into a professionally managed organization with an office in Chennai. Today, 28 clubs are affiliated to it. Some of TNTA’s present activities include:

• Running tennis coaching schools
• Conducting and administering tournaments at regional, national and international levels.
• Coordinating with All India Tennis Association (AITA), Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) and other bodies.
  Coordinating with International Marketing Group (IMG) to conduct the ATP Event.
• Conducting coaching camps for State level players.
• Presenting annual awards to potentially talented players in various age groups at its Annual Day function.
• Conducting clinics and examinations for umpires and officials.
• Conducting free coaching for corporation school children in association with SDAT.
  

The Government of Tamil Nadu constructed a world-class tennis stadium for the conduct of the South Asian Federation (SAF) games in 1995. This stadium is now called the SDAT Tennis Stadium and is located at Lake Area in Nungambakkam, Chennai. Impressed by the international facilities at the stadium the organizers, International Marketing Group (IMG) moved South Asia’s only ATP event to Chennai in 1997. This made it possible for the Chennai tennis loving crowd to witness in action international greats like Boris Becker, Patrick Rafter, Richard Krajicek, the "Woodies", Carlos Moya, and Rafael Nadal.

(3) TNTA TENNIS COACHING SCHOOLS:

Centers:

Tamil Nadu Tennis Association
SDAT Tennis Stadium,
Lake Area,
Nungambakkam,
Chennai 600 034
Ph: 91 44 2817 0381

Tennis Coaching Schools and Academy
No. 30, Gandhi Irwin Road,
MRC Stadium,
Egmore,
Chennai 600 008
Ph: 91 44 2819 1034

(4) ADVANCED PLAYER DEVELOPMENT SCHEME:

Inspired by the Krishnans and the Amritarajs, several youngsters have taken to tennis in Chennai. TNTA has drawn up an imaginative and well-conceived program aimed at developing talent to international standards. This special program called TATE has four main components.

• Identification of talent
• Development of talent through regular coaching with national and international exposure.
• Development of physical fitness and mental toughness to face International competition.
• Exposure of select players to National and International tournaments.

At present Sriram Balaji, Mohit Mayur and Rankumar are being supported under the scheme.

(5) MARG ACADEMY OF RURAL TENNIS (MART):

Tennis is played avidly in the districts of Tamil Nadu as in Chennai. There are thirteen district associations that actively promote tennis by conducting tournaments and harnessing talent through coaching schemes in their respective areas. TNTA has introduced the District Coaching Scheme to provide Districts with experienced coaches to establish strong grass root District Coaching centers. The District Association will provide playing facilities and the support staff. AITA Men’s Ranking Tournaments will also be conducted.

MARG, the Real Estate Group has come forward to support the scheme to establish grass root coaching centers in Tiruchy and other Districts where Tennis is popular.

TNTA will help start the scheme by identifying and deputing a coach for each scheme.

(6) COACHING SCHEME FOR UNDER PRIVILEGED CHILDREN

The program is started with a view to broad base grass root coaching amongst the underprivileged so as to help the talented youngsters who have the hunger to aspire to reach the very top in the sport.

The support for the children is based on a DAY BOARDING scheme which willinclude providing of training, coaching and diet under supervision of TNTA free of cost.

Presently 6 children were selected on the basis of tests for agility, endurance, strength speed, and flexibility. These selected children are undergoing training Coaching and Training under the supervision of TNTA; this selection process will be an ongoing one.

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