Nadal can hit sixes too: ask 'coach' Srikkanth !

Chennai, Jan 3 (UNI) Tennis is (literally) 'bayen haath ka khel' for Spaniard Rafael Nadal, who plays the sport left-handed. Not for nothing is he world no 2, his admirers may say. The Spanish idol initiated himself in cricket on the Centre court of the SDATN stadium as part of the publicity for the ATP tour Chennai Open here today.

And his coach was none other than former India captain and one of Chennai's sporting idols, Kris Srikkanth.

It was just past lunch time and the sun was beating down hard.

Yet, Nadal walked out, his second round opponent in the Chennai Open, India's Karan Rastogi in tow, holding a tennis ball in his hand.

And as Srikkanth gave him some tips on how to hold a cricket bat, Nadal amidst cheers from onlookers, lofted Karan's deliveries into the stands.

Srikkanth gave Nadal the background of the popularity of cricket in India and exchanged notes on tennis. 'I told him that tennis, however, is as popular as cricket in India, as is football following the 2006 World Cup'', Srikkanth told mediapersons.

Srikkanth said he also had words of encouragement for Rastogi hoping that he would soon be among the top 25 or even higher in world ranking and that the Mumbai lad must work for it.

Nadal said 'he would be carrying home a cricket bat to get more familiar with the sport. ''The next time I come back I will be better at it,'' he said in jest.

The star of the Chennai Open, Nadal, said it was the same (nice) feeling as tennis, to play cricket.

He said it was also nice to play friendly cricket with Rastogi before the real tennis contest against him tomorrow.

The event was one among a few publicity programmes got up for Chennai Open by event managers IMG.

UNI