Coimbatore has been a Mecca for tennis over a century. The city has produced several champions who have played the game around the world. Nirupama Vaidyanathan, the ace tennis player and the author of the book "Moonballer" lives at Florida in the USA. To be precise, she lives in Tampa with her husband Sanjeev and their little daughter. Nirupama is the Director of Tennis at the Cheval Golf & Athletic Club belonging to Larry King Junior.
Nirupama was at Coimbatore recently and this visit of hers facilitated a chat at "Centre Court" her residence at Race Course in Coimbatore. "I used to coach at Santa Clara in California under the banner 'Niru's Tennis Academy' along with my brother K.V. Ganesh and since my husband Sanjeev had to move over to Tampa at Florida, I moved along with my daughter Sahana. I continue to visit Santa Clara once in a while and technology helps me to maintain accounts and the schedules of our tennis academy at California.Our academy functions out of four locations in California and we have a network of players and coaches . In fact, we continue to have a residence at Santa Clara."
The famous tennis legends, K.G.Suresh and K.G.Ramesh happen to be the elder cousins of Nirupama while it was her advocate father K.S.Vaidyanathan who took up the task of making Nirupama a champion. Nirupama continues to remember her formative years at Coimbatore where she used to play at the City Club of the Coimbatore Cosmopolitan Club. Nirupama gratefully acknowledges the members of the club who accommodated by giving up their game during the times when she had to train for tournaments. She has played and won several national and international events.
"Florida has been the home for a number of 'Ivy League' academies in the past. 'Saddle Brook', the coaching center managed by the legendary Harry Hopman and the academy run by Nick Bollitieri who happens to be the coach for Agassi are nearby. In fact, Pete Sampras and Capriati came out of these academies. Therefore its quite a challenge to live up to the expectations while nurturing champions and our special programs will take some years to produce competitive talent." shares a bubbling Nirupama.
The day starts early for the family. Nirupama packs off her daughter to school and descends upon the tennis courts. In all there are 9 clay courts and about 200 people play here everyday. There are about 15 adult leagues and the women's leagues are popular here. The day begins at 8.30 am and goes on till 11.00 am. Nirupama goes home and returns with her daughter by 3.30 pm and continues until the day is over. She is pretty much excited while sharing details about the management and day to day care of Cheval Club & Athletic Club at Tampa in Florida, "The owner Larry King Jr is open to ideas and therefore it becomes easy to create successful programs. We have a golf course too and a number of people visit,play and get ready at the club itself before proceeding to their place of work. I help them to maintain the tennis courts with the help of machines. We have 5 coaches and some part-time coaches too. I set the curriculum in consultation with everyone concerned and at times we have special coaches too. Educating the coaches in an important task. Older kids are made to earn while they learn. They train the beginners at the Club. We have tournament training programs on a regular basis".
Cheval is a mini township at Tampa in Florida. Its an upscale location and has wonderful drives and water bodies where you can get to see alligators nearby. However its quite safe for the residents. In spite of all these factors Nirupama likes Coimbatore, "I used to train under champions at Coimbatore as a child and now as a champion player I am able to tutor the kids. I want to come back sometime and give something to the sporting fraternity who cannot afford. Coimbatore is a self-less and noble city. I will do something in my city". says she.