Arjun Rathi, a 17-year-old with an inspiring Rishabh Pant-esque story, has captured hearts with his remarkable comeback. After a serious road accident in February 2024 that kept him off the court for eight long months, Arjun returned to competitive tennis and climbed into the Junior World Top 100 within just three months.
This week, he achieved a stunning milestone by winning the ITF J200 Kolkata Open as an unseeded player. Overcoming tough matches and defying the odds, he triumphed in the final with a convincing 6-4, 6-2 win over Poland’s Jan Chlodnicki. Let’s hear what the young champion has to say about his journey:
Q) How does it feel to win the J200 in Kolkata this week?
AR – It feels great to win a J200 title in the first month of the year itself. This week wasn’t easy, as I played several three set matches. Today’s match was relatively easier (final against Jan Chlodnicki 6-4 6-2). But glad to have won the title in Kolkata this week.
Q) You had a road accident last year and were out for several months. How did you manage to make such a great comeback?
AR – I had the accident in February 2024. I was on complete bed rest for 6 months, and then rehabilitation for 2 months. Then I eased my way back into tennis, trained for a month or so before playing tournaments. I didn’t have good results to begin with, but had a great result in Nairobi, Kenya. After that, there was no looking back. There were several tournaments in India where I did well.
Q) You are 17. This is your last year in ITF Juniors. What are your plans now – are you planning for US College Tennis?
AR – My next goal is the Junior Grand Slams. I should be able to make Roland Garros (with my new ranking). I am ready for the transition to Men’s post that as I’ve been playing Men’s for the last 2-3 years, not Futures but on the AITA circuit. Pros is going to be tougher, but I’m prepared for it mentally.
Q) You’re always smiling during your matches. What’s the secret behind that?
AR – I have a ‘chill guy’ mindset, as I keep telling myself on the inside that I will be able to find a way in the match. So I don’t let one mistake bother me too much. However, there are times when I get frustrated, especially when I miss balls that I don’t expect to miss or when I am struggling to find my game.
Q) You have a great serve. You also try to come to the net to volley quite often. Are you trying to model your game around some player or is it your own style?
AR – There’s no player that I’m trying to copy. There was a phase last year when I was struggling to find my game, which is when my coach Aditya Sachdeva Sir recommended that I add something to my game. He didn’t force me, but suggested that I try coming to the net, even though it’s not easy for every player. I tried – it was tough for one or two months, but with time it became like second nature to me. Now I can go to the net at any time, and I am often aware where the opponent will hit after I approach. In fact, many players don’t expect it and often panic when the opponent comes to the net.