Yuki Bhambri swings between extremes of self-flagellation when threadbaring his own game, and a peevish streak of crabby reactions when confronted with even a hint of criticism. He was once livid that rumours got out of him repeatedly suffering from cramps. Someone who suffers pain when playing tennis — at times representing India — ought not to suffer an added burden of embarrassment for that spasmodic pain. But Bhambri is not your average 22-year-old bloke.

He was a former junior World No. 1 who had won the Australian Open colts title. Over a brutally inquisitional Bangalore Davis Cup World Group play-off weekend, Yuki says he’s suffered like never before, and he’s lost his fair share of finals in his tennis career. “This has been pretty disappointing, and I can’t remember the last time I was hit by something this bad. I’d won my last 8 matches though of different standard tournaments, but here I lost the matches when India was on the cusp of winning big. Can’t get worse,” he says, berating himself all over again after a media interaction where he has already owned up to having chances all week, and not capitalising on any in his two singles rubbers.

Unforced errors

“I’ve perhaps made more unforced errors in these two days than in my last 10 years,” he says with a sad smile.

The present state of his game — he played two flat singles rubbers in the Davis Cup playoffs against Serbia where India finished 3-2 — is there for everyone to dissect. His present state of mind is hard to fathom. It makes you wonder just how deep into the woods of introspection has this 22-year-old boy lost his way.

Those who’ve watched him closely in the Davis Cup team can point to a thousand things that are all wrong. That, at 22, his priorities need to be manically devoted to tennis. That, he’s stubborn and coaches can’t make him listen or drill messages past that stone-faced visage. That, he is arrogant. The biggest taunt is that in this highly-charged-up tie where the pairing of Rohan Bopanna-Leander Paes and then the top singles player Somdev Devvarman upped the intensity, played out of their skins and fought to bring India level at 2-2 in the tie against 2nd ranked Serbians, Bhambri book-ended with a bleating showing which was so flat and tame that his spirit while representing the country got questioned.

While the team tried to pump him up and there were two five-setters from his team-mates to spur him, inspiration can be quite a blathering concept if not backed by action. “I told him he shouldn’t go for his winners quickly, and should work on his opponent’s forehand, his weakest shot, and grind it out, he found that difficult unfortunately,” non-playing captain Anand Amritraj says.

One theory is that because Bhambri doesn’t have as strong legs as Paes or Devvarman, he prefers the short, snappy approach and hence rushes for the kill even when he shouldn’t.

“Agassi would stick to baseline and go for winners, but he never made any errors,” the team captain says, explaining that Bhambri will need to devise a way to go beyond 10-12 shots in a rally, before his mind loses patience and chases the winner. “Sometimes the errors are in big bunches, then it’s tough to regain control of the match,” he adds. Bhambri’s persistent struggles with injury are well-documented, as also is the fact that injuries can make him very wary. “He worries about it too much and it plays on his mind,” the captain adds.

Strong legs

Experts are clear that what Bhambri needs is a top-notch trainer to sort out strengthening issues, and perhaps even a high-rated coach who has worked with Top-10 men — whether at the Bollitieri academy where he intermittently goes or elsewhere — to get back on track. And this could need resources that might not be readily available. “I told him at the start of the tie that he has more talent than both Serbians put together. But they’ve worked harder on fitness and are prepared to grind it out,” Amritraj says.

Dr Vece Paes puts his talent into perspective. “No one is born with great strokes. Yuki’s talent has come from his hardwork all these years; his strokes are a result of his efforts in polishing them,” he says. Now the same intent would be needed in getting stronger — legs and core.

Bhambri is in a strange place today. He clearly couldn’t rise to the occasion of the fifth live rubber against a steadier opponent, incidentally a camp-mate since both were 15. His body language is flat, and with the likes of Paes and Devvarman around him, he looks even paler as a go-getting competitor. What was seen as raw talent stands the risk of looking mechanical now. “If they weren’t around to play those brilliant matches I’d not be here. Leander’s played 50 ties, and it’s exceptional. I don’t think I’ll be playing tennis till 40!” he chirps, hoping to learn from them soon so he’s not accused of dragging the team down. “I’ll learn from this,” he says.

Davis Cup is not a place to slip under the radar owing to Paes and Somdev’s presence. On Monday, as Bhambri lost in straight sets, he saw how Filip Krajinovic — the youngest of Serbs — refused to slip under the radar and grab the lead role. If nothing else, Bhambri can learn to wear his injuries and cramps like proud battle-scars, in a way Paes does.