Emphasizing that “accountability and transparency are vital for Indian tennis to recover from its current unprecedented decline,” Somdev Devvarman stated that he and other like-minded players felt compelled to act as the system has fallen into disarray.
Devvarman, a former Indian tennis player, has taken the All India Tennis Association (AITA)—the governing body for tennis in the country—to court, accusing it of violating the National Sports Code. Alongside fellow Davis Cup player Purav Raja, Devvarman has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Delhi High Court, alleging that the AITA is flouting rules and engaging in corrupt practices.
“The conduct of the federation directly conflicts with the law of the land. It disregards the Sports Code, ignores court rulings, and its administrators fail to follow basic sports governance guidelines while benefiting from the achievements of players,” Devvarman stated in a message shared on his social media.
Devvarman, who won gold medals in men’s singles and doubles at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, criticized the current state of Indian tennis, noting that the country is producing successful players despite the “broken system.”
“We succeeded as professionals despite a corrupt, insensitive, and incompetent system. But must every young boy and girl who picks up a racquet and dares to dream face the same challenges? The system should support dreams, not destroy them. We owe it to the sport that has given us so much to make a difference. We owe it to the future of Indian tennis,” said Devvarman in his statement.
He also expressed his appreciation for the legal team, including advocates Rahul Mehra, Arundhati Iyer, and Jhanvi Dubey, and thanked the Indian tennis community—players, coaches, parents, juniors, and supporters—for their unwavering support and optimism. Devvarman concluded his statement with hope for “better days ahead for Indian tennis.”
