Dubai: A rejuvenated Amirvala Madanchi is targeting a wild card entry in the qualifiers for the 2013 Dubai Tennis Championships that get underway at the Dubai Aviation Club from February 16.
The Dubai-based Madanchi, who boasts the highest ATP Ranking in the UAE of 1,294, has spent the past couple of months getting physically prepared for the challenges on the men’s tour, starting with the Dubai tournament in less than two weeks’ time.
“It has been more than four hours of fitness a day under my new coach Nigel Prasad and I believe this time spent will help me in being more prepared for the remainder of the season,” Madanchi told Gulf News.
The 18-year-old, who was born in Tehran, started playing tennis at just eight years old. His move to the UAE helped him take his game to the next level and stints at the ISP Tennis Academy in France and the Bruguera Tennis Academy in Spain saw him rise to become one of the best-ranked players on the ITF Junior Circuit from the UAE with a ranking of 237.
“It was hard work all the way and I am prepared to do anything to ensure I achieve my goals in tennis,” Madanchi said.
Besides the fitness regimen, Madanchi has been using the services of Jean-Francois Danican and UAE Davis Cup star Omar Bahroozian as his coaches at the Dubai Aviation Club and Safa Park courts.
“I find both of them contributing so much to the overall development of my game,” Madanchi said. “Omar is still very much active as a player and he can contribute with his vast experience on the tour, while Francois has so many years of coaching at the highest level.”
His consistent form has even seen Madanchi receive a call from the Iranian Tennis Federation to be a part of the Davis Cup team later this year. “I am yet to make a decision on the Davis Cup squad,” he said. “At the moment, I am totally focused on getting a wild card for the qualifiers in Dubai.”
