\u201cBefore Wimbledon, I was traveling a lot, playing tournaments and didn\u2019t have much time to train. But for the US Open, we skipped a few events to make time for physical, mental and skillful training. I feel more ready now.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cOne key thing I want to bring to the US Open is strength, physical dominance and mental resilience during clutch points. That\u2019s where I believe I can grow,\u201d expressed the 18-year-old who left for US from Bengaluru earlier this week. He will participate in the ITF J300 before taking part in the US Open Junior Championships.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Having taken to tennis as a 10-year-old, Kriish has risen the ranks rapidly with dedication, improvisation and discipline. He is currently India No.1 in the junior category. If there was something to spot-light upon this year, it was undoubtedly his Wimbledon debut. \u201cHitting with the players, being a part of that environment, made me feel like I belonged,\u201d he expressed. \u201cI was a little nervous during my singles match - the crowd and atmosphere, it\u2019s not something I was used to. But I took that reflection into my doubles and I felt much more confident.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Though his singles\u2019 match didn\u2019t go as planned, he paired up with Connor Doig of South Africa and defeated British pair Davies and Lawlor 3-6, 6-4, (10-6) in Round of 32 to match it to round of 16. The pair also made it to the quarterfinals after winning 6-3, 3-6, 10-7.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Beating a British team in doubles on their home turf will always be a memorable moment for Kriish. \u201cThe crowd was intense. They were cheering loud for the home team, but I used that energy. At one point, I was shouting and celebrating after every point. My partner and I had a great rhythm. We had a plan and we executed it,\u201d he affirmed.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Kriish as a young player made the most of his time at Wimbledon watching and learning from other players, \u201cI learned a lot just by observing how the top players handle pressure moments, how they close out games or fight back. That experience is gold\u201d he recalls.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
For Kriish, the journey of professional tennis has brought a lot of learning, self- discovery and a deeper understanding of the sport. \u201cIt\u2019s been a journey of ups and downs,\u201d he explains, after a three-hour long practice match at the SM Krishna Tennis Stadium in the heart of the city.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Kriish as a young player made the most of his time at Wimbledon watching and learning from other players, \u201cI learned a lot just by observing how the top players handle pressure moments, how they close out games or fight back. That experience is gold\u201d he recalls.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
His home state Karnataka has a rich tennis legacy and being part of that ecosystem excites him. \u201cI was training on the same grass courts with senior pros, doing ice baths and recovery therapies I felt like I belonged. I know there\u2019s a long way to go, but it felt like a step in the right direction.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n