Game, Set, Match, Degree: Tennis Champion Amodini Naik’s Quest for Excellence

Early morning, KSLTA Cubbon Park, Bengaluru

The morning air is still cool when Amodini Naik steps onto the court. Right foot first – always the right foot. It is one of those small rituals that grounds her, along with the same song playing in her earbuds and her hair tied the exact same way.

But here is what is different about this morning routine: in a few hours, she will trade her tennis racket for a laptop, swapping between volleys and vocabulary, between serves and Shakespeare. At 19, Amodini is navigating two demanding worlds simultaneously: the cutthroat arena of professional tennis and the rigorous pursuit of a BA in English from Sikkim Manipal University.

“People keep asking me which one I’ll choose,” she says, “That’s the wrong question. The question isn’t which dream to pursue; it’s how to pursue both intentionally.”

Intentionally: the cornerstone of her philosophy that she lives by, both on- and off-court.

“Compete with Intention.” – Amodini

Rewind: The Seven-Year-Old Who Fell in Love

“I remember the excitement of simply hitting the ball over the net and the freedom of running around the court,” Amodini recalls, “It was pure joy.“

Her journey began not with Olympic dreams or championship goals, but with a child’s pure delight in movement. The excitement of running across the court and simply hitting the ball over the net filled her with joy. Her parents noticed this spark. Rather than push back, they encouraged her to follow her dreams.

“My parents played a huge role,” she says. “They noticed how much I enjoyed the sport and supported me completely.”

By 14, that joy had translated into over 50 All India Tennis Association tournament trophies. Ask her about those early victories, though, and she will redirect you. “It was mostly joy. I loved competing,” she says. “I always tried to focus on improving my game rather than the trophies.“

Even then, the foundation was being laid – not a foundation built on winning, but on growth, on intention, on the love of the process itself.

The International Awakening

Q: What is your most memorable tournament?

“Thailand,” she answers without hesitation. “It was my first experience playing internationally with stronger competition and different playing conditions.”

It was 2021. Amodini had entered the ITF Junior circuit, taking her game beyond India’s borders to Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. Each country brought new challenges: different court surfaces, unfamiliar playing styles, and the loneliness of competing far from home.

Thailand was not just memorable because it was first. It was memorable because it shattered her understanding of what was possible.

“That’s when I realized – this could be real. This could be my career.”

Seven ITF Junior trophies later (singles and doubles combined), with a career-best ranking of 548 in ITF Juniors, she had proved herself right. But professional tennis was calling, and the real test was about to begin.

May 2024: Entering the Pros

The AITA Women’s Pro circuit is where dreams are tested. It is where talented juniors discover whether they have what it takes to compete as professionals. The margin for error shrinks, the competition intensifies, and the pressure mounts.

Amodini’s answer? Three trophies in five months.

By October 2024, she had broken into the ITF Women’s Pro Rankings (starting at 1648). By January 2025, she had earned a wild card for the ITF W100 in Bengaluru – a $100,000 tournament, the biggest in the ITF Pro Futures circuit.

Her current All-India Women’s ranking: 26 (career-best: 18).

February 2025: The National Games Moment

Q: How did it feel to win bronze at the National Games?

“It was surreal. I felt nervous but also incredibly excited to be part of such a high-level event.”

The 38th National Games in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, brought together over 11,000 athletes. For tennis players, it is a rare opportunity to compete for national glory, representing your state against the country’s best.

Amodini fought through the draw, facing India’s top national players. When she clinched the bronze medal, standing on the podium as the national anthem played, the weight of years of sacrifice hit her all at once.

“Sense of achievement and pride. I worked very hard leading up to the games, and winning a Bronze medal against the top national players felt amazing.”

But here is the part that reveals who she really is: she gave herself one day to celebrate, to feel the pride and joy. Then she sat down with her coach to analyze what worked, what did not, and how to improve.

Because champions do not rest on medals. They use them as fuel.

The Double Life: Tennis Courts and Literature Classes

A typical day in Amodini’s life:

Morning: Tennis session at KSLTA
Afternoon: Online classes, reading for her BA in English
Evening: Fitness and recovery
Tournament days: Studies squeezed into travel time and downtime

“English has always been a subject I like,” she explains. “It gives me balance outside tennis. The flexibility of online learning also allows me to manage my travel and tournaments.”

This is not just about getting a degree; it is a strategic balance. When tennis gets intense, English provides perspective. When academics feel overwhelmed, tennis offers release. They are not competing priorities; they are complementary passions.

“It gives me control over my study schedule. I can attend classes, complete assignments, and still maintain professional training hours without compromising either.”

Her advice to aspiring student-athletes is direct and uncompromising: “Don’t let anyone convince you that you can’t do both, studies and sports. It’s tough, but discipline and time management make it possible.”

The Mental Game: What Losses Taught Her

Q: How do you handle losses?

“I give myself a day to feel it. Then I sit down and analyze to figure out what went wrong. Losses have shaped me more than wins ever have.”

Q: What defines your game?

“It’s my intensity. I fight for every point, and I don’t check out mentally when I am down.”

She learned it from her idol, Rafael Nadal: “His mental strength and calmness when everything is falling apart. That’s the quality I want to master.”

Her dream? Playing Maria Sharapova at Wimbledon. “The atmosphere and the history of the tournament make it special.” And yes, once a monkey stole her banana during a match. Even champions need humor!

The Road Ahead

Amodini’s vision is clear: earn a WTA ranking, go deeper in ITF pro tournaments, and ultimately compete on the WTA tour and Grand Slams. Bold? Absolutely. But when you have won 50 trophies by 14, balanced professional tennis with university studies, and claimed a National Games bronze medal, bold becomes believable.

“Tennis taught me to be resilient, humble, and fearless, both on and off the court,” she reflects. These are not just athletic qualities – they are life skills that transcend the game.

Compete With Intention

“To step on the court with a clear plan, whether it’s patterns, targets, or mindset,” she explains. “It’s about being deliberate.”

Before every match: same song, same hairstyle, right foot first. After every loss: one day to feel it, then analysis, then forward motion. In every practice and every class—intentional action, deliberate growth.

Her message to SMU Online? “By continuing to be supportive. I want SMU to be a partner in my journey.” The flexibility of online learning is not about lowering standards – it is about raising possibilities.

To aspiring student-athletes, her advice is direct: “Don’t let anyone convince you that you can’t do both studies and sports. It’s tough, but discipline and time management make it possible.”

Tomorrow, KSLTA Cubbon Park, Bengaluru

Amodini will wake early, tie her hair the usual way, and step onto the KSLTA courts – right foot first. She will train with intensity, then dive into English literature with equal focus. She will pursue a WTA ranking while pursuing her degree, chasing Grand Slam dreams alongside academic excellence.

Because Amodini does not believe in choosing between dreams. She believes in competing for all of them – deliberately, intensely, joyfully.

One point at a time. One class at a time. One intentional moment at a time.

Inspired by Amodini’s journey? SMU Online provides the flexibility and the support that learners need to excel both academically and athletically. Because your dreams do not have to compete – they can complement each other.