Prakash Amritraj says his recent good form, which saw him reach a US $25,000 Challenger quarter-final in Nottingham, and playing on grass, his favourite surface, has given him the confidence to do well against Uzbekistan in the Davis Cup Asia-Oceania zone Group 1 second round tie, starting in Jaipur on Friday.
Amritraj, who had a brilliant run in the Futures and Challenger events before an injury forced him to pull out of a US $10,000 event in Chennai last month, returned to the professional circuit after a three-week lay-off in the British hard courts season.
The 22-year-old California resident made it through two qualifying rounds and reached the last eight of the main draw where he lost to 118th ranked Justin Gimelstob of the United States.
Ranked 293 on the ATP Tour, Prakash said the splendid run helped him get into the groove ahead of the Davis Cup tie.
"I was able to reach the quarter-final stages in the recent Challenger and also reached the last eight in the Futures tennis at Vietnam recently. I played on grass only in the Wimbledon qualifiers (last year) and reached the last eight. But that was enough to give me a feeling that I can adopt well to this surface," Prakash, son of the legendary Vijay Amritraj said.
"My style of play suits more to grass courts. I love to attack the net and have a serve and volley game."
The Indian-American became eligible to play for his country of origin in 2003 and had a baptism by fire against Sjeng Schalken in the World Group play-off against Holland.
He won his first Davis Cup tie in the first round match against China in Delhi in March this year.
India are considered favourites against the Uzbeks but Prakash said he will prepare for the match in his usual way and all that matters is his own game.
"I have never seen the Uzbeks but I am not bothered. Whoever is playing against me I am determined to play well," he said. "I rely on my first serve and I hope it gets going."
The youngster, whose serve and volley game is an anathema in modern tennis, which is full of baseline power-hitters, said he did not deliberately model his game on that of his father, who also liked to come up to the net often.
"Consciously, I have never tried to imitate him but some things have automatically crept into my game. My father has been the guiding light in my career and I still turn to him for few tips."
Prakash felt that he hasn't not lost out because he turned pro and took up tennis full time after completing college.
"There was a lot of discussion with my father that when I should turn a professional but I have no grievances. I am improving with each outing," he said.
He said being the son of a famous father does not put any pressure on him.
"I have exerted so much pressure on myself just because I am determined to do well that I don't feel any pressure for being son of Vijay Amritraj," he added.
Instead, he said, he derived inspiration from his father's video clips of which memorable matches were a prime source.
"The Wimbledon match where my father was 2-0 up against Bjorn Borg is my favourite. I feel very excited while watching how my dad was playing," he said.
"But these tapes have no effect on my father now. He says 'past is past, and nothing can be changed now'."
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