Tennis titans Nelushi and Kemali clash in nationals

Angu RAJENDRAN

1100 points! That’s the total ranking points that both Nelushi Fernando and Kemali Herath have on the last count. Both these under 18 tennis stars are ranked number one for their age group on the eve of the Tennis Nationals that is due to start next week - 13th of August at the SLTA courts.

Once again the best in tennis will clash and the real competition will be at the girls under 18 gouping where the titans Nelushi and Kemali will clash.

Nelushi Fernando - worked hard on her aces

Seventeen year old Nelushi Fernando last year’s under 16 champion beams as she says “I am no longer under 16, I have moved up to the - under 18 but with the advantage of being the top seed.” This young bridgeteen exudes confidence. Confidence that has come with the intense training undergone in the past few weeks with her coach Sudantha.

Nelushi started tennis at the age of 11 when she was the Western Province table tennis champion and the School’s games captain. Junior school games captain she rushes to add.

Nelushi watched her older brother play tennis and was very tempted. Once she started she knew this was the game for her.

She tried to manage both tennis and table tennis simultaneously but her coaches asked her to decide. The techniques in both games being vastly different both coaches advised her to give up one. She loved the hard-hitting game of powerful strokes where there was a lot of running involved. Nelushi being a star athlete of the school, the choice was clear. Tennis’ had to be. Table tennis’ loss was tennis gain.

Nelushi’s enthusiasm is apparent in her dazzling smile. I practice about four hours each day. I am playing well right now having worked on my strength - my service. Let’s see how it goes next week,” she says. Kemali Herath is going to be tough competition.

“We have played against each other four times in the last one year,” says Nelushi. “Kemali has won twice and I have won twice.” The last championships were the Colombo Championships when I beat Kemali,” says Nelushi.

Nelushi was inspired into tennis by her older brother who captained the De Mazenod tennis team and who used to beat her initially. Now in University, whenever he comes home, Nelushi looks forward to playing a game or two with him. “I beat him now even though he is six years older than me,” says Nelushi.

Nelushi is going to go all out at this year’s nationals both in the Under 18 and open categories. Coming up from the junior age group - Nelushi is all set to give off her best. This No 1 ranked player has already represented Sri Lanka in the Junior Fed Cup twice. She has trained in so many countries all over the world. The advantage that most foreign teams have is in the type of training. They are very tough. We tend to give up when there is unrelenting competition but not the Chinese or the Australians. But we can toughen up too and that is what we are trying to do,” says Nelushi who feels that playing against senior players and boys will help in the toughening up.

As Nelushi gets ready for the crowning event on the tennis calendar - the Nationals, her genial smile, her confidence and her single minded determination will help her take tennis to lofty heights.

Kemali Herath - “I like to raise the standard of the game Kemali’s quiet and gentle exterior hides her steely determination. Kemali is a Ladies College “A” level student who has worked her way to the top with her continued efforts and remarkable powers of concentration during a match.

Kemali played in last year’s final in the Under 18 age group at the nationals and lost to Amritha Muthiah in a hard fought final.

“This is my last year in the Under 18. I am going to give it my best shot,” she says very softly. Kemali has been playing tennis since the time she was seven years old. Coming from a tennis playing family with an uncle who played for the country in the Davis cup, it was but natural for Kemali to take to tennis. Oldest in a family of three, she wants to become a doctor. She definitely has the personality for that. She has a quiet, calm exterior where nothing really rankles her whether on or off the court. She loves to hit the ball hard and feels that is her strength.

About the impending finals against Nelushi, she says, “I want it to be a good game. “She is very good. I want to concentrate on my strengths and not her weaknesses,” says Kemali of her game plan.

If we both play well, win or lose, we will raise the standard of the game. I am going to focus on not making mistakes. If I focus then I can keep the ball in. If we are both playing well, then the one who makes the first mistake each time will lose the point. I am determined to make this a match worthwhile.

On the tennis player that she admires the most, she says she used to admire Maria Sharapova but now it is only Djokovic - the Wimbledon champion.

“Is it his good looks?” “No! No! Not just that, his game too,” she laughs.

“I love his never-give - up attitude and his focus,” she says.

Kemali goes to her last under 18 tournament to meet her opponent point-for-point. Will her years of experience, help her to tackle up and coming star Nelushi Fernando? Next week will tell. The tennis nationals at the SLTA that will see some dazzling matches will be on from the 13th to the 21st of August.