Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi is fine-tuning her skills under the scholarship awarded to her by the Rafael Nadal Academy in Mallorca.
Her coach, Manoj Kumar had insisted that there is room for improvement in every aspect as she is still very young. And the 15-year-old needs to continue improving in order to achieve her ultimate dream.
“My ultimate ambition in tennis is to become world number one and win Grand Slams. I know that’s what every player says, but for me, it’s about more than just titles,” Maaya told the India Today.
“By the time I end my career, I want to feel that I’ve truly accomplished something—that I’ve given my absolute best. Whatever I achieve, as long as I know I gave it my all, I’ll be happy with it,” she added.
One of the best moments of her career came when Rafael Nadal overlooked her training at the academy. When asked, if she had butterflies during the moment, she said: “I definitely did! I think a lot of people felt the same way. We already knew the day before that Rafa was coming, but I still didn’t expect him to actually show up. It was really kind of him to come down and watch us play. On top of that, he even gave us some advice, which was amazing.
“So far, the experience has been incredible. I haven’t been training here for too long, since I’ve been travelling for tournaments, and I was in India for a month. But overall, it’s been a great experience,” she added.
Talking about the qualities that she admires the most about the 22-time Grand Slam Champion. The 15-year-old said, “Apart from being an incredible tennis player, he’s also a great person. There’s nothing he hasn’t achieved in his career, yet his dedication and passion remain unchanged.
“The first time I saw him play was when he was preparing for the Davis Cup, during my first visit to the academy. That match turned out to be his last Davis Cup appearance. Despite having won 22 Grand Slams and accomplishing everything possible in the sport, he still showed the same hunger in practice.
“Even when he missed a few shots, he got frustrated—showing just how much he still cares about improving. That kind of drive and motivation is something every athlete should have,” she added.
READ MORE: How Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi Is Refining Skills To Become India’s Brightest Tennis Prospect
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