Ramanathan Krishnan
Encyclopedia
Ramanathan Krishnan is a retired tennis
player from India who was among the world's leading players in the 1950s and 1960s.
. Later that year, playing for India in the Davis Cup, Krishnan defeated Australia's Rod Laver
(the Wimbledon runner-up) in four sets. These performances gained Krishnan seventh seeded status at Wimbledon in 1960, he reached the semi-finals losing to the eventual champion, Neale Fraser
. In 1961, Krishnan reached the Wimbledon semi-finals by beating Roy Emerson
in straight sets, but lost in the semis to eventual champion Rod Laver. Krishnan received his highest seeding at Wimbledon (#4) in 1962 but had to withdraw mid-tournament due to an ankle injury.
in the inter-zonal semi-finals with Krishnan beating Wilhelm Bungert (a Wimbledon finalist later that year). At Calcutta, in the semi-finals against Brazil
, the two sides won two matches each and it all came down to Krishnan's match against the Brazilian champion, Tomas Koch. Koch was leading two sets to one and was up 5-2 in the fourth set when Krishnan staged one of the most memorable comebacks by winning the set 7-5 and then the match. In the final against Australia
, Krishnan and Jaidip Mukerjea
won the doubles rubber (against John Newcombe
and Tony Roche
), but Krishnan lost both singles matches (against Fred Stolle
and Roy Emerson) as India were defeated 4-1. Krishnan was a regular player on the Indian Davis Cup team between 1953 and 1975, compiling a 69-28 winning record (50-19 in singles and 19-9 in doubles).
Krishnan also won the Indian national tennis title for eight years at a stretch.
described his tennis as 'pure oriental charm' while another described his style as 'Eastern magic'. More recently, Robert Philip wrote that 'each and every Krishnan rally was a thing of rare beauty'. According to veteran sports journalist C.V. Narsimhan 'His service was never a powerful weapon, he did not have any powerful groundstrokes either. He won with consistency, angled volleys, and a graceful half volley drop shot now and then'. Rafael Osuna
, Nicola Pietrangeli
and Krishnan's son Ramesh
were some of the other notable exponents of this style emphasizing finesse.
in 1961, the Padma Shri
in 1962 and the Padma Bhushan
in 1967
, where he manages a gas distribution agency. Ramesh Krishnan
emulated his father's achievement of winning the Wimbledon junior title, and went on to become a leading Indian tennis player in the 1980s.
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
player from India who was among the world's leading players in the 1950s and 1960s.
Career
Krishnan honed his skills under his father, T.K. Ramanathan. He soon made his mark on the national circuit, sweeping all the junior titles.Wimbledon
In 1954, he became the first Asian player to win the boy's singles title at Wimbledon, beating Ashley Cooper in the final. In 1959, Krishnan played in the men's singles competition at Wimbledon losing in the third round to Alex OlmedoAlex Olmedo
Alejandro "Alex" Rodríguez Olmedo is a former tennis player from Peru, who was ranked as the top amateur player in the world in 1959. Although born and raised in Peru, he came to Southern California and was mentored by Perry T. Jones, President of the Southern California Tennis Association at the...
. Later that year, playing for India in the Davis Cup, Krishnan defeated Australia's Rod Laver
Rod Laver
Rodney George "Rod" Laver MBE is an Australian former tennis player who holds the record for titles won in career, and was the World No. 1 player for seven consecutive years, from 1964 to 1970...
(the Wimbledon runner-up) in four sets. These performances gained Krishnan seventh seeded status at Wimbledon in 1960, he reached the semi-finals losing to the eventual champion, Neale Fraser
Neale Fraser
Neale Andrew Fraser AO MBE is a former tennis player from Australia, born in Melbourne, Victoria, the son of a Victorian judge. He began playing tennis at age 11 and attended St Kevin's College, Melbourne where he became Captain of Tennis at the school.Fraser won Wimbledon in 1960 and the US...
. In 1961, Krishnan reached the Wimbledon semi-finals by beating Roy Emerson
Roy Emerson
Roy Stanley Emerson is an Australian former tennis player who won 12 Grand Slam singles titles and 16 Grand Slam men's doubles titles. He is the only male player to have won singles and doubles titles at all four Grand Slam tournaments. His 28 Grand Slam titles are an all-time record for a male...
in straight sets, but lost in the semis to eventual champion Rod Laver. Krishnan received his highest seeding at Wimbledon (#4) in 1962 but had to withdraw mid-tournament due to an ankle injury.
Davis Cup
Krishnan was a key member of the Indian team which reached the final of the Davis Cup in 1966. India surprised West GermanyWest Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
in the inter-zonal semi-finals with Krishnan beating Wilhelm Bungert (a Wimbledon finalist later that year). At Calcutta, in the semi-finals against Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, the two sides won two matches each and it all came down to Krishnan's match against the Brazilian champion, Tomas Koch. Koch was leading two sets to one and was up 5-2 in the fourth set when Krishnan staged one of the most memorable comebacks by winning the set 7-5 and then the match. In the final against Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Krishnan and Jaidip Mukerjea
Jaidip Mukerjea
Jaidip Mukerjea is a retired professional tennis player from India. Mukerjea is the grandson of Indian independence leader Chittaranjan Das.Mukerjea won the Indian National Junior Championship in 1959...
won the doubles rubber (against John Newcombe
John Newcombe
John David Newcombe, AO, OBE is a former World No. 1 tennis player.-Biography:He won seven Grand Slam singles titles, A natural athlete, Newcombe played several sports as a boy until devoting himself to tennis. He was the Australian junior champion in 1961, 1962, and 1963 and was a member of...
and Tony Roche
Tony Roche
Anthony "Tony" Dalton Roche is a former professional Australian tennis player, native of Tarcutta. He played junior tennis in the New South Wales regional city of Wagga Wagga. He won one Grand Slam singles title and twelve Grand Slam doubles titles. He is also very well known for coaching...
), but Krishnan lost both singles matches (against Fred Stolle
Fred Stolle
Frederick "Fred" Sydney Stolle is an Australian tennis player. He was born in Hornsby, New South Wales, Australia. He is the father of former Australian Davis Cup player Sandon Stolle....
and Roy Emerson) as India were defeated 4-1. Krishnan was a regular player on the Indian Davis Cup team between 1953 and 1975, compiling a 69-28 winning record (50-19 in singles and 19-9 in doubles).
Krishnan also won the Indian national tennis title for eight years at a stretch.
Style of play
Krishnan's playing style was known as 'touch tennis'. Critics hailed Krishnan as a marvel, Lance Tingay of The Daily TelegraphThe Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
described his tennis as 'pure oriental charm' while another described his style as 'Eastern magic'. More recently, Robert Philip wrote that 'each and every Krishnan rally was a thing of rare beauty'. According to veteran sports journalist C.V. Narsimhan 'His service was never a powerful weapon, he did not have any powerful groundstrokes either. He won with consistency, angled volleys, and a graceful half volley drop shot now and then'. Rafael Osuna
Rafael Osuna
Rafael Osuna Herrera is the most successful tennis player in the history of Mexico. He was born in Mexico City, Mexico, and is best remembered for his singles victory at the U.S. Open Championships in 1963, winning Wimbledon Doubles championships twice, the U.S...
, Nicola Pietrangeli
Nicola Pietrangeli
Nicola "Nicky" Pietrangeli is a former tennis player from Italy. He is considered by many to be Italy's greatest-ever tennis champion....
and Krishnan's son Ramesh
Ramesh Krishnan
Ramesh Krishnan is a tennis coach and former professional tennis player from India. As a junior player in the late-1970s, he won the boy's singles titles at both Wimbledon and the French Open. He went on to reach three Grand Slam quarter-finals in the 1980s, and was part of the Indian team which...
were some of the other notable exponents of this style emphasizing finesse.
Awards
Krishnan received the Arjuna awardArjuna award
The Arjuna Awards were instituted in 1961 by the government of India to recognize outstanding achievement in National sports. The award carries a cash prize of 500,000, a bronze statuette of Arjuna and a scroll....
in 1961, the Padma Shri
Padma Shri
Padma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan...
in 1962 and the Padma Bhushan
Padma Bhushan
The Padma Bhushan is the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, but comes before the Padma Shri. It is awarded by the Government of India.-History:...
in 1967
Book
Krishnan has written, with his son Ramesh Krishnan and Nirmal Shekar, a book titled 'A touch of tennis: The story of a tennis family'. The book covering the achievements of three generations of the tennis playing Krishnans, was released by Penguin Books India.Current
Krishnan now lives in ChennaiChennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
, where he manages a gas distribution agency. Ramesh Krishnan
Ramesh Krishnan
Ramesh Krishnan is a tennis coach and former professional tennis player from India. As a junior player in the late-1970s, he won the boy's singles titles at both Wimbledon and the French Open. He went on to reach three Grand Slam quarter-finals in the 1980s, and was part of the Indian team which...
emulated his father's achievement of winning the Wimbledon junior title, and went on to become a leading Indian tennis player in the 1980s.
Career highlights
- 1954 - Wimbledon junior champion.
- 1960 - WimbledonThe Championships, WimbledonThe Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon , is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, considered by many to be the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three Majors...
- seeded seventh, reached the semi-finals (losing to eventual champion Neale Fraser). - 1961 - WimbledonThe Championships, WimbledonThe Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon , is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, considered by many to be the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three Majors...
- seeded seventh, reached the semi-finals for the second consecutive time (losing to eventual champion Rod Laver). - 1966 - Member of the Indian team which reached the final of the Davis Cup (lost to Australia in the final).