Plagued by injuries that forced a month's lay-off, the Davis Cupper had in between slipped down the ATP ladder. As if that wasn't enough, he had to pull out of a US Challenger in Texas recently due to injuries.

Srinath went to Pune to gain some practise ahead of the forthcoming Indian ITF Satellite Circuit's first leg, commencing in Mumbai tomorrow. He hopes to tune up for the event by trading volleys with Davis Cupper Sandeep Kirtane and coach Hemant Bendrey at PYC and Deccan Gymkhana.

Excerpts from an interview:

Q: How has this year been for you?

A: Very frustrating. Last year, I played almost 22weeks on the US and European circuits. But this year, I have so far played 15 week abroad. The year has been marred by injuries and illness. Sometime back, it was a stomach virus which forced me to rest for almost one month and recently, it was tendentious on my right foot which sidelined me for almost four weeks that caused me to miss the US Challenger.

Q: Are the injuries because of overstretching?

A: I don't know. Maybe I am, or it could be something else. But injuries are part and parcel of sports.

Q: What is that we Indians lack?

A: It's said that tennis is a rich man's game. It's true, because only those having money at their disposal can play more on the overseas circuits and employ the best of coaches. It's a game where the more you play at a higher level, the more you learn and improve. But here we don't have a proper infrastructure. There is no proper system or support nor any good coaches and trainers. So with this background, how will we produce good players? Being in India,one can only aim at playing in Futures and Satellites. We play each other for years and do not reach anywhere. The overall system has to be changed.

Q: Have you roped in any sponsors?

A: Yes. It's the Sure Corporation, based in Canada. It was somewhere during the Canadian Open when my friend from Mysore, Mohit Vijay Kumar, now settled in Canada, who helped me get this deal.