Traveling the world for Tennis Tournaments has been eye-opening. From places like Singapore, India, or Thailand, which most people have heard of, to places like Dushanbe, and Tajikistan, which people haven’t heard of before, these travels have taught me a lot, such as the importance of hard work and patience and that everything is not as glamorous as it seems on TV.

Tennis has broadened my horizons through tournaments and by travelling to countries to play in these tournaments. Travelling the world for tennis tournaments has been an amazing experience, expanding my horizons and deepening my knowledge of the game. I have visited 10 countries so far in the course of my Tennis Travels: India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. Every location has provided distinctive experiences that go beyond the game itself, from the lively streets of Singapore and the rich Indian culture to the undiscovered splendour of Dushanbe, Tajikistan. In addition to teaching me the value of perseverance and hard work, I discovered that, in contrast to the polished portrayals we see on television, the road to success is paved with obstacles and personal development as I made my way through various courts and cultures.

For me as a 14-year-old, travelling for tennis has changed my life. Every journey has brought with it new difficulties that have forced me to step outside of my comfort zone. I've developed the ability to quickly adapt to new situations, whether it's navigating strange airports, 10-hour delays, sleeping in lounges or changing playing conditions like no warm-up courts, or variability in the standard of court upkeep, long match delays or playing doubles with a partner I have never played with before. In addition to helping me become a better tennis player, these experiences have given me more self-assurance and resilience. I've come to understand that every setback, be it a difficult practice or a tough tournament loss presents a chance for improvement.

Culture is a thing that changes a lot around the world, For instance, in certain places the food choices are not very diverse making it difficult for a vegetarian to find good diverse choices, this means that sometimes you have to only eat fried rice for the whole week. Which at times went hand in hand with creativity. In Malaysia, the chef made the fried rice differently for me every day and this kindness touched my heart.

I have been fortunate to be exposed to so many different cultures and while playing and staying with them understand how while we are different, human values like fair play and integrity are foundations for a sports person anywhere in the world. But life is not always fair, and I have learnt to deal with situations where the levels of fair play are not so well defined e.g. for example clapping on double faults or parents getting involved in the play rather than leaving it to the players.

I've been able to experience different coaching philosophies and training methods from other places thanks to my travels. While strategy and mental toughness are highly valued in some places, agility and speed are prioritized in others. I've had the opportunity to train with coaches from a variety of backgrounds, each of whom has a distinct viewpoint on the game. These encounters have improved my knowledge of tennis and given me new abilities to apply to my training regimen.

Through my travels, I’ve absorbed numerous valuable lessons that extend beyond the tennis court. I've learned the importance of hard work, discipline, and humility. I trained with Davis Cup national players in Bangladesh and Dushanbe and admiration for their humility was something I carried home with me. Each experience has taught me that success isn't just measured by wins or losses but by the effort and attitude I bring to the game. These lessons have shaped my approach to both tennis and life, reinforcing the idea that growth often comes from challenges.

Friendships made on the court have enriched me, wherein despite language barriers and often playing each other in critical matches e.g. in Bangladesh I made a friend who I played in the singles quarterfinals and doubles semifinals wherein we put on our competitive hats. But after that during the unrest in Bangladesh, I was so worried for him and was in constant touch to offer support and be a friend to talk to in tough times. For a tournament in India, I reached out to a player's father asking if his son would like to partner with me and he liked that I was confident enough to reach out and he became my friend and to date calls to encourage me before my tournaments.

I have observed how tournaments are run and now have a good sense of the logistics involved but also understand best practices from a planning and organising standpoint.

I would like to conclude that my Tennis Travels have been eye-opening, they are a form of education in themselves with so much to learn from. I am fortunate to be able to be given these opportunities so early in life and value how much these have contributed to my understanding of the world, human nature, cultures and my personal development.

Up Next