"MSLTA has been a flag bearer of Indian Tennis": Sunder Iyer on hosting three major international tournaments in Maharashtra

By Diptayan Hazra
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], April 17 (ANI): In what marks a transformative phase for Indian tennis, the Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association (MSLTA) has successfully hosted three major international tournaments, the Challengers Tour (Men's), WTA 125 (Women's), and the prestigious Billie Jean King Cup (Women's). Under the stewardship of Secretary Sunder Iyer, these achievements are not only raising the profile of Maharashtra as a tennis hub but also paving the way for a brighter future for Indian players.
While speaking to ANI about the significance of these tournaments, Sunder Iyer said, "Yeah, obviously, MSLTA has been a flag bearer of Indian tennis for a long time, and we have been doing many tournaments over the last 10-15 years... But in the last seven, eight years, we have tried to increase the level of tournaments so our players also benefit."
These events provide a crucial platform for both Maharashtra-based and Indian players, enabling them to compete against top-tier talent without having to travel abroad.

"Obviously, Maharashtra players will get better opportunities to play in bigger events. When you have a big event, at least four to six players from Maharashtra get an opportunity but more than that, it's an opportunity for Indian players to play bigger events at home - be it men's, women's, or ITF (International Tennis Federation) juniors," he noted.
He pointed out the visible results of this approach, "Aryan Shah got to play six, seven, eight events. We have Shrivalli (Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty)... Vaishnavi Adkar, Pooja Ingale -- all these girls won gold at the National Games. Why? Because they get opportunities, they get a place."
"So, anyway, Maharashtra has been doing a lot of tournaments. We are very happy to support tennis, not only in Maharashtra, but Indian tennis as well...But we also have been able to, you know, break ice with ITF, with ATP [ Association of Tennis Professionals], with WTA (Women's Tennis Association), also to support us in terms of, you know, financial support and that is how we've been able to put all these tournaments together and also thanks to the Sports Authority of India for their support in all these tournaments," he added.
Participation in these international tournaments also significantly impacts a player's global ranking, often giving them a much-needed springboard.
"Yeah, obviously, the rankings go up. They get a wild card... If they get a wild card and win a round, they get 8 or 9 points for, say, a USD 35,000 tournament," Iyer explained.
"We used to do Asian Juniors in Pune. The guys who won the Asian Junior went on to become top 50 in the world that year," he added.
To meet the high standards required by ATP, WTA, and ITF; MSLTA has made substantial infrastructure investments, especially in Pune, which has become the nerve centre for international tennis in Maharashtra.
"Pune has a setup and all the infrastructure, which was started in 2008 during the Commonwealth Youth Games. We developed it in such a way that this centre is supposed to do international events," he said.
While Mumbai presents challenges due to limited infrastructure, Iyer pointed out that clubs in the city are still world-class.
He further added, "We do international tournaments in eight cities in Maharashtra -- Nashik, Nagpur, Solapur, Aurangabad, Navi Mumbai, apart from Pune and Mumbai. We've invested through our clubs in joint ventures with the Maharashtra government or local municipal corporations."
India's hospitality is playing a key role in transforming the global perception of tournaments held in the country.
"We have to leave a mark for international players when they come to India. India was not talked very high about because people used to fall sick... but all this has changed," he noted.
Iyer credited collaborative efforts across the country for this shift:
"The kind of effort that we put in, Karnataka puts in, Tamil Nadu puts in, Delhi Tennis Association puts in -- it has obviously changed how foreigners think about India. They feel welcome. They feel at home," he added.
While the current progress is promising, Iyer remains clear-eyed about what needs to be done for India to emerge as a serious contender in world tennis.
"We need to do a lot in tennis. We are poised very, very well to be a world leader in tennis. We have the numbers. Our economy is good. Our players are doing fairly well in the last ten years," he said.
He highlighted the emergence of depth in both men's and women's circuits, "We always had one good player but now we have at least two or three chasing each other -- that's a very good sign. We have our older lot of players who are doing well worldwide. We have seven to eight players in the top 100 in doubles and our young girls are doing very well. I think in two years, they'll be world beaters."
For this momentum to sustain, support systems must be strengthened, "We need to create a pathway for them. Take care of their travel. Appoint mentors -- the older players -- to work with and travel with these girls. With this kind of guidance, our players will do very well. It will take some time, but these are things we need to do now, immediately." (ANI)