Rastogi aims at improving rankings to play Grand Slam qualifiers

Mumbai, Mar 29 (UNI) Young upcoming tennis talent and Davis Cupper Karan Rastogi, is aiming at improving his rankings in the next year to get direct entry to the Grand Slam qualifiers.

Speaking at a media conference, the 20-year-old Mumbai lad said ''I have no specific goals as far as end-of-the-year rankings are concerned but would be looking to improve them to the extent that I will be able to gain direct entries to the qualifying stages of next year's Grand Slam events.'' ''I have worked hard on my serves and feel that I have a much improved delivery now than before after changing the action a few times,'' said the youngster, who made his Davis Cup debut against Uzbekistan earlier this year.

Rastogi, who has signed a Rs 60-lakh sponsorship deal with Dewan Housing, said India stood a fighting chance against Kazakhstan in the Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Group I tie, to be played on hard (acrylic) indoor court at Almaty from April 6-8.

''It will be a tough tie but the court, which would be fast and offer low bounce should suit our style of play. I have also beaten their number one player Alexi Kadrio a few times,'' said Rastogi.

Rastogi will also travel to the Nick Bolleteri Tennis Academy in Florida after the Davis Cup match and stay there for around 3 to 4 weeks. ''This time with sponsorship from Dewan Housing, I will be able to pick a specialised coach and train on my fitness,'' he said, adding that after he reaches the academy he will be able to sit with the trainers and coaches and develop a schedule which would suit him and also have him on the same wavelength as the coaches there.

UNI