by Randy Walker
@TennisPublisher
Four years ago, Saketh “Saki” Myneni was teaching tennis at the Burning Tree Country Club in Greenwich, Connecticut.
Now, he will be playing in the singles main draw of the 2016 U.S. Open.
Myneni defeated Pedja Krstin of Serbia in the final round of qualifying Friday at the U.S. Open to reach the main draw of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time in his career. He will become the first man from India to play in the singles main draw of the U.S. Open since Somdev Devvarman in 2013.
“I feel proud and amazing,” said Myneni courtside after the match, as seen in this full post-match interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvV0h-dFBew
Myneni was a standout player from 2008 to 2011 from the University of Alabama, noted as one of the best college football programs in the United States, led by head coach Nick Saban. During summers after playing for the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Myneni was a tennis instructor at the Burning Tree Country Club in Greenwich, Connecticut, the wealthy suburban town located about 45 minutes from Manhattan, where tennis Hall of Famers Ivan Lendl and Mats Wilander once lived.
Myneni was cheered on by many of his former students from Burning Tree on Friday, many wearing “Saki Squad” labeled orange shirts, as well as the man who hired him at the club, Jack Waite, the director of racquet sports for the club and a former ATP pro himself.
Myneni, 28, is ranked No. 143 in the ATP World Tour rankings and has been a member of India’s Davis Cup team since 2014.
He lost in qualifying in all three previous majors this year, including by a painful 3-6, 6-4, 8-6 margin to Bosnia’s Mirza Basic in the final round of a qualifying at the Australian Open.
Randy Walker is the author of the book, ebook, audio book and mobile app “This Day In Tennis History” (www.TennisHistoryApp.com) and can be reached at Rwalker@NewChapterMedia.com
