Arnav Paparkar became the first Indian in 36 years to reach the Wimbledon boys’ singles quarterfinals since Leander Paes won the title in 1990.
The Indian, who is ranked 19 in the junior category, packed off Japan’s Ryo Tabata 6-2 61 in under an hour to book his place in the last eight of Wimbledon. The Indian will now take on American qualifier Jordan Lee.
Yuki Bhambri, who won the junior Australian Open in 2009, reached the US Open quarterfinals that same yar and remains the last Indian before Arnav to reach a junior Grand Slam last eight.
The 18-year-old Arnav began playing Grand Slam junior events this year, which is his final season in the category. He has been improving with every tournament.
“I am really happy with this win against Ryo Tabata. I had lost to him twice before, so finally getting the win feels great. This is also my first Grand Slam quarterfinal, and to achieve that at Wimbledon makes it even more special. I am really excited for the rounds ahead,” said Arnav Paparkar on JioStar’s Wimbledon Daily Live.
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On the mental challenge of facing an opponent carrying an injury, he said: “This was the toughest match I have played so far in this tournament. The scoreline doesn’t show it, but he was carrying an injury, and it is really difficult to play against an injured opponent because a lot of things keep playing on your mind. You start thinking that he is struggling, and that can make you lose focus. You feel a bit relaxed, but then your intensity drops, and suddenly you lose the momentum. In tennis, that can change everything. ”
The Pune-based Arnav has been coached by Hemant Bendre. He also trains at the Soto Academy in Spain under Nigel Beavers.
Amritraj hails Arnav’s style of play
Indian tennis legend Vijay Amritraj praised Arnav Paparkar’s style of play. He said: “Arnav Paparkar is not only in great form but also has a lot of variety. He can attack the net, stay back on the baseline, and keep rallies going with consistent groundstrokes. His movement is sharp, and he reads the game well. He also has good shot selection, knowing when to step in and finish points at the net. On top of that, he is tall and has a strong serve, which gives him easy points and helps him stay out of trouble. He is a complete player with a bright future.”
