Three singles titles, one runners-up position and five double crowns is how his success graph reads in the last six months. Not coincidentally perhaps, the 25-year-old Puneite's resurgence comes after a six-month stay in the United States last year.

However, the roller coaster journey has been far from easy. From getting a nod in the Davis Cup squad in 1997 to being axed from an elite Indian team next year and then making a comeback onto the circuit was a traumatic experience. Kirtane recollects: ``Those were really difficult days and the depression affected my play.''

Labouring under financial difficulties, the saving grace during those `tight days' was cousin Sandeep's supporting shoulder, even though the duo were going through similar vicissitudes.

Neither Nitin nor Sandeep made a hue and cry about being dropped from the Davis Cup squad. Theyendured further misfortune of a lean phase in domestic tournaments -- a drought that deprived them of a fighting chance in the Davis Cup squad.

In all the darkness, a job provided by Western Railway made for a beacon of hope. ``That was a real help,'' says Kirtane adding, ``It reduced some pressure on me.''

Kirtane then embarked on recovery and consolidation. The stint at Florida followed but it meant missing the 1998 Gold Flake Open at Chennai and the Challenger at Baroda.

The short spell in Florida bore dividends. Kirtane announced his return to India by winning the Sriram Open hard court title at New Delhi in September. He followed with three double crowns at a stretch on the Indian Satellite circuit before travelling to the Bangkok Asian Games where Kirtane won a bronze with the national side.

Enjoying firm support from his employers Western Railway who promoted him to officer, Kirtane went from strength to strength. Two Challengers and two Futures later he went on to pass the acid test winningthe AITA-Gold Flake Futures at Chennai, making the quarter-finals in the Coimbatore leg and then finished runners-up to Marcus Hilpert (Germany) at the Calcutta National grass court tourney. Kirtane, however, was not to be denied the Krishnan Academy invitational singles crown in March, ousting Davis Cup reserve Vinod Sridhar.

Kirtane feels that besides support from his employers, AITA's move of introducing Challengers and the Gold Flake Futures tourneys gave him the right platform to perform. ``We need tournaments like this. Sometimes players lose their confidence. With these tourneys, players can improve.'' he says.

Believing that there are only four to five years left in his career, Kirtane is optimistic of regaining place in Davis squad. ``The way things have progressed in the past six months and if luck sides me in the future too, I am sure to see myself in the Davis squad soon. That's my prime objective right now.''