'He has got speed' - Suryakumar Yadav reveals his pick for tennis double partner

As stars continue teeming into the Wimbledon Royal Box, Suryakumar Yadav was the latest Indian cricketer to stop by. He spoke about his love for tennis, his sporting icons, and the unexpected cricket–tennis crossover in his life.

Asked what brought him to Wimbledon for the first time, Suryakumar told Star Sports: “I watch tennis quite a bit on television. I’ve always heard about the atmosphere around Centre Court, especially the moment you walk in. I am here to experience that surreal feeling in person.”

The dynamic batter also revealed that he was watching tennis at Wimbledon for the first time and inspiration behind his suit: “This is my first time here, and I wanted to get everything right. Honestly, my wife really takes care of me. She has been behind me for the last three or four days, helping me decide what to wear to this wonderful tournament. So many people have turned out in numbers, I am one of them, just here to experience the same thing they are.”

Suryakumar confessed that he was eager to watch Tennis maestro Novak Djokovic in action, having been following his career since long. “I have definitely come to watch Novak Djokovic. I have been following his career for a very long time. I even read his book ‘Serve to Win’, which really inspired me. I made my international cricket debut a little later in life, though not quite as late as 30, but I could really relate to his journey and perseverance. The way he keeps going is phenomenal.”

Suryakumar named Pete Sampras and Roger Federer when asked to name his favourite tennis players from past and present. “If we are talking about Wimbledon specifically, then definitely Pete Sampras and Roger Federer. I remember how the crowd would go crazy when either of them turned up here. But my all-time favourite is obviously Novak Djokovic. And currently, I would say Carlos Alcaraz, he has been a wildfire on the court.”

The Indian T20I skipper also voiced his take on how tennis and cricket are similar in nature, as players’ mental toughness is tested right through in both the sports. “I feel there are a lot of similarities between cricket and elite tennis. Mental toughness plays a crucial role in both. There is also a lot of endurance involved. In cricket, we keep running the same 20-25 metres repeatedly, and it is similar in tennis as well. So, I would say strong mental resolve and endurance are the two big common factors.

Suryakumar also picked the crricketer he would pick as a doubles partner: “Definitely, MS Dhoni. He has got speed, a lot of endurance, he is mentally very tough, and recently, whenever he is not playing cricket, I have seen him playing a lot of tennis. So yes, without a doubt, it would be MS Dhoni.”