‘Team man’ Myneni stands out in an individual sport
Marriage proposals can be tricky. Do you go big and pop the question under the Eiffel Tower, at an Olympic medal ceremony or in your living room, a la Monica and Chandler from ‘Friends’?
If you’re Saketh Myneni, the Davis Cup works just fine. The 28-year-old proposed to girlfriend Sri Lakshmi Anumolu during Wednesday’s official dinner, ahead of the tie against Spain. The decision was neither spur of the moment or well-planned.
“It was kind of semi-planned,” explained Myneni on Thursday. “I wanted to do something that I’d remember. Davis Cup has been big for me in terms of it being a team competition and all that. Having it in front of my teammates and everyone around... It’s a good thing for me to do it that way.”
The big day will be scheduled upon the consideration of the families during the off-season. The proposal fits Myneni’s reputation. A product of the American collegiate circuit, Myneni’s dedication to being a ‘team man’ remains astounding in such an individual sport.
“It’s tough to get the team atmosphere in tennis, but college (University of Alabama) helped me out a lot,” says Myneni, who endorses the sportswear brand Zeven. “Being part of a team has always been special to me. I grew up with friends around, no matter what sport I was playing. Individually, you’re on your own. You have to try and find your own motivation. But in a team, you push each other to a different level and you get to see different practice methods.”
However, it goes further than the sport for Myneni, who earlier told HT “once I’m out, I don’t even want to talk about tennis”. The double major in finance and economics believes playing for the team would hold him in good stead in the business world.
“In college, I got to meet different people from different cultures and it developed me as a person. It’s not just sports, most of the jobs in the business world, you get to do it as a team. It’s about whole organisations, not just about yourself.”
What about the team they’re playing? Myneni says the interactions with Spain have been pleasant, but strictly limited to coming on and off the court. The dinner came as a welcome break since “it’s always more fun to interact when you’re not wearing shorts and t-shirts”.
He had high praise for a certain Mallorcan.
“Rafa (Nadal) is a star stud and everybody wants a picture and there’s always so much going around him. But for such an unbelievable athlete, he remains down to earth and is a gentleman.”
What about the prospects of sharing the court with the said gentleman? “He’s a 14-time Grand Slam champion. But you can’t let the pressure get to you,” says Myneni. “The guy’s going to be an absolute bull, running around. But you have to find ways to get better and make it competitive.”