We are living in the times of Carlos Alcaraz, but Atul Premnarayen is a veteran Indian tennis broadcaster who has covered the prestigious Grand Slam circuit since 1980 and took time out to share his thoughts and experiences exclusively for the Free Press Journal. Premnarayen was of the opinion the game has changed immensely since the time he started in 1980. “The game has changed drastically.
When you talk of Grand Slams like Wimbledon, French Open, US Open. You talk of the best players in their best form giving the best results. But Grand Slams are the biggest sporting fortnight in the whole world.
50,000 come everyday, seven and a half lakh people come in a fortnight at all Grand Slams. The heartbeat and pulse of the tennis world. Once in a lifetime player like Roger Federer.
" "When it was Borg and McEnroe, Borg was called one of the great tennis stars. No volley, no big serve. Wimbledon was big serve and volley.
Borg showed staying at the baseline. Fitness became a very big thing. The best TV stations across the world were there.
Games became about long rallies, great shot-making, big serves,’’ he reminisced. Premnarayen recalled with vivid memory broadcasting the iconic 1980 Wimbledon final between John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg. “You cannot go to Wimbledon without talking about strawberries and creams.
That one match was the strawberry and cream of my life till today.” "Carlos Ferrero made sure Carlos Alcaraz was very fit" - Atul Premnarayen Premnarayen offered hi.