Dhakshineswar Suresh: From fringes to frontline, meet India’s new Davis Cup hero
From meticulously placed kit bags and strict discipline to years of dawn-to-dusk grind, India’s journey to become the newest Davis Cup mainstay has been quietly, patiently and away from the spotlight.
Tennis roots go back to family. His father, Suresh Ekka, was a club-level player from Dindigul and it was through these early connections that Dhakshineswar found his way to coaching Lakshman Chakravarthi in Chennai.
From those early days the grind was brutal. Between 2010 and 2016, Dhakshineswar would cover around 16 kilometers a day by bus across Chennai.
“He was only nine years old then. There was no ego, no shortcut. He had to go from Surapet to Mogappair, then from Mogappair to Anna Nagar and from Anna Nagar to Loyola College in Nungambakka. I would pick him up from the bus stand.
“Mornings were spent with fitness trainer Ranjit in Anna Nagar, followed by tennis sessions at Loyola College,” Chakravarthi told PTI, sharing her ward’s initial difficulties. he said.
“He would play sets with everyone, he never hesitated to work hard. He is very quiet, he has a different attitude. He has not drank Pepsi or Coke for years. He is very, very disciplined.” Money was often an issue. Opportunities were limited. But progress came in flashes.
In 2016, Dhakshineswar went to France for training and later the same year, he won the U16 National Championship at DLTA (prestigious Fenesta Open); This was a turning point that gave the world a glimpse of his potential.
“If he had sponsors before, things could have been very different. He is playing at a different level,” his coach said.
But setbacks continued to interrupt the momentum.
A back injury cost him five to six months in 2019, and the ensuing COVID-19 pandemic dried up competition and sponsorship.
With options narrowing down, former India player Somdev Devvarman recommended a move to the United States, a decision that would redefine Dhakshineswar’s career.
“Since we had limited money, we sent him to the US on Somdev’s advice. The scholarship helped,” Chakravarthi said.
“He improved a lot there. College tennis not only gave him structure, but also sharpened his mental edge. The constant match play, pressure of team competition and the professional environment strengthened him in a way that rankings alone could not.”
That mental strength is now evident on the Davis Cup stage. In India’s last Davis Cup tie against the Netherlands in Bengaluru, Dhakshineswar rose to the occasion, putting in a calm and fearless performance under pressure to steady the team when it mattered most, winning all three matches in India’s close 3-2 win.
In May, he will complete his education at Wake Forest University, where he carries out ‘communication studies’.
Chakravarthi, 65, calls Dhakshineswar his best student.
“He is my best student,” he said without hesitation.
“Everything about him is organized. The clothes, the shoes, the kit bag. He always keeps his things in the same place. His hat, his racquet, everything is always in the same place. He’s very methodical. That’s his quality. Little things make a difference.”
The coach believed that the next leap was near.
“He must travel more and compete more. He can be in the top 100 in six months. He must get wild cards. Playing more tournaments is important.”
Chakravarthi emphasized the physical demands in the upcoming period rather than coaching.
“Coaching is good in India. Fitness is where the difference comes in. He did well in the US but still needs to work on his legs.”
Pride at home is an understatement.
A man of few words, Suresh Ekka simply summed up his feelings after his son’s recent Davis Cup heroics.
“What will I say, there are no words.”
Suresh said Dhakshineswar did not say a word to his family after his heroic display against Netherlands.
“There was no talking, just hugging.”
This silent embrace reflected Dhakshineswar’s journey: orderly, disciplined and patiently built over years of unprecedented efforts.
As he now cements his place in India’s Davis Cup plans, his story is a reminder that breakthroughs are often shaped not by noise but by routine, resilience and belief sustained over time. PTI
