Young guns on the double
Thehan Wijemanne (L) and Chathurya Nilaweera (R) with the Men's Doubles title they won recently
The doubles pair play a key role in Davis Cup ties which comprises singles and reverse singles. It could be the decider in a tie between two nations. It is like the Achilles Heel for some countries. Sri Lanka usually had singles players who combined for the doubles match. Focusing on doubles by fielding a specialist combination could change the fortunes of Sri Lanka in future Davis Cup ties.
This is the perception of two teenagers Thehan Wijemanne, 17, and Chathurya Nilaweera, 16, who were crowned the youngest men’s doubles champions at the 105th National Tennis Championship.
“We didn’t expect to come this far to be honest. We were expected to do well but we never thought we would win the title,” said the duo in an interview with the Sunday Times after their epoch-making feat.
Members of the Sri Lanka Junior Davis Cup team along with Dhilwan Herath which created history by emerging runner-up in the pre-qualifying event in 2019, the champion duo are creating a pathway to become the Bryan brothers of Sri Lanka tennis by winning multiple titles together.
“We have been playing for a couple of years. We were successful but not at this highest level,” said Thehan, who emulated his father Sanjay Wijemanne’s feat of winning the national doubles title partnering Rohan de Silva.
“Dad used to say how they won at 18 and 17. That’s why it’s kind of special to me. I never expected to win the National title. Finally to win, especially this young. I have won the Under-18 title but to win men’s is a great deal for me,” said Thehan who became one of the youngest players to represent Sri Lanka in Davis Cup against Paraguay last year.
Chathurya also made an impact in the singles at the Nationals losing a close contest to eventual champion Yasitha de Silva while Thehan lost to Dhilwan in the pre-quarter finals.
They began thinking of the doubles title when they went past the quarter finals.
“Sharmal Dissanayake and Rukmal Cooray won easily last year. This year they were favourites to win. We managed to pull that win. That gave us a boost in confidence. It made our rivals feel we are having something special for them. That was the time we thought we could win this tournament,” said Thehan.
“That match we kept a steady mindset. We were able to finish it off. We had a very close call in the semifinals. Down a match point we managed to win that somehow. The finals went to a super tie breaker. Those two matches I would say were very close,” said Thehan.
Amazingly they had hardly any time to prepare together before the Nationals which was postponed from December with Chathurya returning from an ankle injury lay-off.
“They trained only for two days together. Chathu had an injury in December and he received the green light from doctors only on January 12. Immediately after he trained and came back but up until December, he was in a very good training programme. Even four or five weeks of void didn’t impact a lot as far as Nationals was concerned,” said his father and coach Buddhika Nilaweera.
So what makes them tick consistently as a doubles pairing especially since they train individually under different coaches – Thehan with Niranjan Casiechetty and Chathurya with his father.
“Through Junior Davis Cup days we have been playing together. Anytime we practice together as a team, we play doubles. We have good communication,” said Thehan, a gangly southpaw who played cricket at Royal College in the junior age groups before choosing tennis as his career.
“In doubles, it’s a very big advantage for us. We have our forehands on the outside. That is very hard for the opponents because either way they have to go down the middle which is a very tough shot in doubles. Against their weakness and our strength, it’s a huge advantage for us,” said Chathurya on his left-handed partner.
“They complement each other. When one doesn’t perform well, his partner lifts him up. These two are partners in the Junior Davis Cup as well. That has helped to understand each other’s body language,” said Nilaweera who said playing doubles is a different ball game altogether.
“You have undue pressure because you are obliged to your partner. At the same time you have to understand how your partner works. The partner needs to lift you up when you are down. That’s teamwork,” he said.
It is also about playing with soft hands in doubles as compared to singles.
“In doubles you can’t play the same hard shot playing in singles. Here you have to cut, slice, drop and find angles. It’s a huge manouvreing game. It’s a different skill altogether. You have to think, strategise. That’s why Sri Lanka is not really doing well in doubles,” he explained.
The new national doubles champions also concurred that Sri Lanka should focus on doubles.
“Sri Lanka tends to have one or two players who do very well in the singles. Number one always tries to pull the team. Where we always fail, I think is the doubles. Internationally they have different training methods,” said Thehan.
“Here a singles player would have to play doubles also. Ideally most countries have specialist doubles pairs. Even if the singles player has to play, he will also be good in doubles. But doubles tactics and level of doubles has to rise in Sri Lanka,” said Chathurya who was just 14 when he represented Sri Lanka at the 2019 South Asian Games in Kathmandu.
“There have been a lot of times we have won all the singles. Doubles made a huge difference. Even if you change partners, volley, serves you need to focus on in doubles. It won’t make a huge difference but there are shots you need to develop specially for doubles,” added Thehan.
The young national champions are the embodiment of grinding their way to the top of the tennis ladder albeit with the encouragement of supportive parents.
“When we both were young, we were not this successful at all. It’s a time consuming process to get to where you are. You need to trust the process of training and getting better. You may be losing at the start. You can get your achievements. Even if you fail, you have something to look back at. You trained hard and there are things you learnt,” said Thehan who won the All Island Under-10 title.
They feel the perception that success is relative to achievements should change.
“Parents don’t see children becoming world class tennis players. For that to change they have to lose to learn and improve,” he said on why players tend to drift away from the sport.
“What separates the two of us from other people is we kept on even when we were losing. We still went for it. We are still kids. We have still so much to learn,” said Thehan.
“To be honest, myself and Thehan, we were not successful in our junior years. For us to get to this standard we have balanced it out well. Both of us are doing pretty well,” said Chathurya, a Stafford International School student, who skipped the Davis Cup tie against Paraguay because he was sitting for his A/Ls. Thehan was not available for SAG because he was doing his O/Ls in which he got 9 As.
“In Sri Lanka people play tennis and study at a very good level but at 16 they quit tennis and focus on studies. That has a huge impact on Sri Lanka tennis,” lamented Chathurya who was ranked 11th in the ATF Under-14 level.
“At senior ITF tournaments we are not anywhere close to that number. One is that a lot of players who beat us could not continue. After O/Ls and A/Ls they neglect tennis and can’t make a comeback. At this level, peak is 18. This is the time they should explore potential,” he added.
“People who grew up with us tend to make decisions too early in deciding what career path they should take. To be honest Sri Lanka is full of talent and potential,” said Chathurya.
“The youngsters are doing pretty well and hopefully they will continue. We need to go a step further at international level,” added Thehan.
The future of tennis in Sri Lanka for the next decade at least is secure on the shoulders of these two young guns who display a maturity which belie their age.
“Our goal is to play Davis Cup together and win more ties for the country,” they claimed in unision.