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My goal is to bring tennis back to life in India: Chauhan
The Statesman Siliguri
|June 18, 2025
The 17-year-old Hitesh Chauhan, who recently became the first Indian to reach the second round of the French Open Juniors since 2016, has set his sights on a goal much bigger than winning a Grand Slam – reigniting the diminishing flame of tennis in the country.
In an exclusive conversation with IANS, the young talent opened up about his dream of representing India in Grand Slams and breaking into the top 30 of the ATP rankings. For Chauhan, it's not just about personal glory — it's about inspiring a generation and reviving interest in tennis nationwide.
"It's going to be a long, tough journey. I don't think I'm even halfway there, but through it all, I just want to make my country, my parents, my coaches, Roundglass—everyone—proud. I want every Indian to see tennis. I want them to see an Indian playing Grand Slams, being in the top 50, and top 30 in the ATP rankings.
"My goal is to bring tennis back to life in India—not at the level of cricket, of course—but to give it the recognition it deserves. I'm ready for the competition, ready for the hard work. And I'm sure I'll be in the top 30—that's my goal," Hitesh told IANS.
This story is from the June 18, 2025 edition of The Statesman Siliguri.
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