Ramesh Krishnan - The Son Who Emulated His Father In The Junior Lawn Tennis Grand Slam Championships

Ramesh Krishnan was born on 5^th June 1961 in Chennai. He is the son of Ramanathan Krishnan who was probably India’s greatest tennis player who made a name for himself in the nineteen sixties. Ramesh Krishnan repeated his father’s achievement when he won the Wimbledon Junior Title in 1979. He also won the Boys’ Title at the French Open and became the top ranked junior player in the world. His career got a kick start with a tournament win in Ernakulam, Cochin.

Ramesh Krishnan also reached three Grand Slam quarter finals in the nineteen eighties. He reached the quarter final of the U.S. Open in 1981. He reached the quarter final of Wimbledon in 1986 and the quarter of the U.S. Open again in 1987.

Ramesh Krishnan was part of the Indian Davis Cup Team which reached the finals in 1987 and the semi finals in 1993. In 1987, in the semi finals against Australia, he beat John Fitzgerald in four sets in the opening match and then defeated Wally Masur in straight sets in the decisive fifth match to give India a 3-2 win. Against Sweden in the finals, India lost 0-5 with Ramesh Krishnan losing both his singles matches against Mats Wilander and Anders Jarryd.

Ramesh Krishnan won the Japan Open in 1986. In 1988, he won the Wellington Open. In 1989, he defeated Mats Wilander in the second round of the Australian Open. In 1990, he won the Schenectady Open.

One of Ramesh Krishnan’s most memorable victories was in the Davis Cup quarter finals against France in 1993. It was near the end of his playing career and he signed off in great style by winning the crucial doubles match with Leander Paes as his partner to win the match and the quarter finals tie. He played with the Davis Cup team between 1977 and 1993. He retired in 1993.

At the Olympic Games in Barcelona in 1992, Ramesh Krishnan reached the men’s doubles quarter finals partnering Leander Paes.

Ramesh Krishnan became India’s Davis Cup Captain in 2007. He has compiled a 29-21 winning record, 23-19 in singles and 6-2 in doubles. Ramesh Krishnan has won eight top level singles titles and one doubles title during his playing career. His highest career ranking was Number Twenty Three in January 1985.

Ramesh Krishnan was awarded the Padma Shri in 1998. He is currently a tennis coach and also runs an academy in Chennai. He helps youngsters to realise their potential and develop their techniques in lawn tennis. He may not have had the fastest serve in the world and nor was he blessed with athletic moves on a tennis court but he possessed a large hearted approach to the game that made the world sit up and take notice of his game. Like his father, he demonstrated that he could overpower others by his touch play as well as his extra ordinary ability to anticipate his opponent’s moves.

Ramesh Krishnan lives with his wife, Priya Krishnan, in Chennai. He is fond of South Indian food and also appreciates Thai and Italian cuisine.