“I am grateful to my coaches Rushmi Chakravarthi and Rajeev Vijaykumar” – J60 Chennai winner Diya Ramesh

Chennai – It was a week to remember for Diya Ramesh, who capped off a stellar performance at the UNIFI–ITF J60 Junior Cup by clinching both the singles and doubles titles. In the singles final, the second-seeded Ramesh displayed remarkable composure and skill to overcome the 14th seed, Parthasarathi Mundhe, with a commanding 6-4, 6-0 victory.

Having also triumphed in the doubles final, Diya has firmly established herself as one of the nation’s most promising junior talents. Following her twin victories, she spoke exclusively with Harini from Indian Tennis Daily to discuss the final match, her journey, her support system, and her ambitious goals for the future.

Harini: Congratulations, Diya, on an incredible week, winning both the singles and doubles titles. Let’s start with the singles final. What are your thoughts on the match today?

Diya Ramesh: Thank you. It was a good match. I wasn’t feeling very well physically, but I’m proud that I was able to manage the situation. The first set was close, and I feel I was able to stay a little bit more consistent than her. In the second set, I made sure to correct the mistakes from the first and understood that my body wasn’t at its best, so I had to be a bit more adaptive with my game.

Harini: How did you find the playing conditions here in Chennai? Do they suit your game?

Diya Ramesh: Yes, they suit me really well, especially considering I’ve practiced here for a long time now. I’ve really adapted to these courts. The playing conditions suit my game, and it also gives me a home atmosphere, which is always a great feeling.

Harini: As a 13-year-old, you reached the finals of this same event two years ago. How do you think your game has improved since then?

Diya Ramesh: I feel that when I reached the final two years back, it was a match where I had to work more on both my game and my mental side. This time, however, the primary focus was on the mental part because my game has improved a lot since then—my serve and my groundstrokes are much better. In this match, the only thing I had to focus on was my mental strength, staying focused, and being able to cheer myself up even when situations weren’t going my way. I would also say I’ve gained a bit of maturity from that experience.

Harini: Can you share more details about your coach and your training setup?

Diya Ramesh: As of now, my coaches are Rushmi Chakravarthi and Rajeev Vijaykumar. I train with them full-time. I’ve been with Rushmi for about 2 to 3 years and with Rajeev for a year and a half now. Both of them have really helped me with my approach and my game. They help me correct my technique, and they’re also very supportive people I can talk to freely. That’s something I’m very grateful for.

Harini: Taking a step back, where did you grow up, and how did you first get into tennis?

Diya Ramesh: I was born and brought up in Chennai. My brother used to play, and there were a few clay courts nearby, so I joined like that. I started out of a pure love to just play something, not necessarily tennis at first. Then, it grew into a real liking for tennis, and I started playing more, increasing my sessions. I felt like the court was my happy place and that it was defining me as a person. I was growing up mostly on the court when I was 12 and 13, and I felt this was my main choice.

Harini: And what about your family? Do they have a sports background?

Diya Ramesh: None of my parents are from a sports background, so I’m really grateful and lucky that they were so open with me taking up tennis as a career. They have been very supportive and have never questioned my choice in a pressurizing way. I’ve seen some parents put a lot of pressure on their kids, so in that way, I’m really happy. They were just happy that I was choosing tennis.

Harini: How is your tennis supported financially? Do you have any sponsors?

Diya Ramesh: As of now, the Tamil Nadu Tennis Association (TNTA) is sponsoring my travel and allowances as part of their ‘Next Level’ program. They are my main sponsor, which allows me to focus on my game.

Harini: Looking ahead, what are your goals for the next few months?

Diya Ramesh: By the end of this year, I want to be in the top 100 of the ITF Junior rankings so that I can play in the Junior Grand Slams. I feel my game is on board to be able to do that. I also want to perform really well at the Fenesta Open Women’s Nationals; that’s a really good tournament I want to play. Thirdly, I want to continue improving my mindset. I want to build on it more so that not only this year but in the coming years, I can improve my game to a level where I am able to constantly compete at those higher levels.

Harini: To wrap things up, just a few quick questions.

Diya Ramesh: