The most recent Indian cricketer to visit the Wimbledon Royal Box as celebrities continue to pour into it was Suryakumar Yadav. He talked about his passion for tennis, his favourite athletes, and the surprising parallel between cricket and tennis in his life.
“I watch tennis quite a bit on television,” Suryakumar Yadav said to Star Sports when asked what motivated him to attend Wimbledon for the first time. I’ve always heard good things about the vibe of Centre Court, particularly when you first enter. I’m here to feel that unreal sensation firsthand.
“This is my first time here, and I wanted to get everything right,” the dynamic batter said, revealing that he was watching tennis at Wimbledon for the first time and that this was the reason behind his costume. To be honest, my wife looks after me a lot. For the past three or four days, she has been by my side, assisting me in choosing my attire for this fantastic competition. I am among the large number of folks that have shown up, simply to share their story.
Having long followed tennis great Novak Djokovic’s career, Suryakumar Yadav admitted that he was excited to see him play.
“I came here to watch Novak Djokovic, for sure. For a very long time, I have been keeping up with his career. Even his book “Serve to Win,” which I read, greatly motivated me. Though not nearly as late as 30, I made my debut in international cricket a little later in life, but I could truly identify with his tenacity and quest. He continues in an incredible manner.
When asked to choose his favourite tennis players from the past and present, Suryakumar Yadav mentioned Roger Federer and Pete Sampras. If we are referring to Wimbledon in particular, then Roger Federer and Pete Sampras are unquestionably involved. When either of them showed up here, I recall how the audience would go berserk. However, Novak Djokovic is unquestionably my all-time favourite. And just now, Carlos Alcaraz has been a fireball on the court, in my opinion.
The Indian T20I captain also shared his thoughts on the similarities between tennis and cricket, arguing that both games test players’ mental toughness. “I think there are a lot of parallels between professional tennis and cricket. In both, mental toughness is essential. It also requires a great deal of endurance. We run the same 20–25 meters over and over again in cricket, and the same is true in tennis. Therefore, I would suggest that the two main common variables are endurance and strong mental resolve.
Additionally, Suryakumar Yadav chose MS Dhoni as his doubles partner: “Definitely, MS Dhoni.” He is quick, very strong, and mentally tough. Lately, I have seen that he plays a lot of tennis when he is not playing cricket. Thus, it would unquestionably be MS Dhoni.
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