Indian tennis team coach Balachandran Manikkath recently met with legendary tennis player Rafael Nadal at the Paris Olympics 2024 Athletes’ Village before the opening ceremony. Manikkath, a prominent tennis circuit figure for more than three decades, was seen exchanging pleasantries and sharing insights with Nadal.
Manikkath has mentored a host of Indian tennis talents, including Rohan Bopanna, Prajnesh Gunneswaran, Sriram Balaji, Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan, Yuki Bhambri, and many others. His extensive experience and dedication to the sport have made him a respected coach in the tennis community.
A former national doubles champion and mechanical engineer by training, Manikkath is currently the chief coach at the Rohan Bopanna Tennis Academy (RBTA) in Bengaluru. His coaching prowess and strategic acumen have been instrumental in shaping the careers of several Indian tennis players.
Manikkath also played a pivotal role in the “Doubles Dream of India” project, a value-additional initiative aimed at supporting Indian doubles players ranked within the top 200 of the ATP Doubles Rankings. The primary goal of this project is to provide these players with ideal support, including access to top-notch support staff, to enhance their gameplay and improve their chances of winning multiple ATP Challenger and Tour titles.
His encounter with Nadal at the Paris Olympics 2024 serves as a testament to his standing in the international tennis community and highlights the collaborative spirit that drives the sport forward.
