Somdev, please let you racquet do the talking

New Delhi: There could be good reason for three time grand slam finalist Andy Murray to voice his opinion on the issue of players being overburdened with their commitments; but someone who has never gone past the second round of a major should ideally focus on the task ahead which should not include cribbing about pay scales.

Somdev Devvarman joining in the chorus of the top guns about the possibility of a strike and then pointing out the percentage of the revenue that the players end up with was not exactly the need of the hour.

Having gone down tamely in the first round of the US Open to Murray and then having a shocker of a Davis Cup against Japan, albeit because of injury, Devvarman of late seems to be in the news without actually being a part of the action.

The 26-year-old has lost the last five of his six matches on tour and if one has a look at his record this year one would seriously question his talk about a heavy workload.

Devvarman who has slipped five places to be ranked 70th in the world in singles has played a total of 56 matches (37 singles, 19 doubles) of which he has been on the wrong end of the result on 30 occasions.

It would probably be harsh to draw any kind of comparison with Swiss ace Roger Federer who according to many is the greatest player to have ever lifted a tennis racquet, but just going by the number of matches that Fedex has contested in 2011 would vindicate the fact that Devvarman does not have much of a case.

Federer who turned 30 last month has played 68 matches (61 singles, 7 doubles) not to mention the fact that he won a vast majority of those.

So, Devvarman feeling the pinch for being on the court for too long can't have too many takers and as far as getting one's hands on the lion's share of the booty is concerned, it's not going to happen too often by losing in the opening rounds of tournaments.

Somdev Devvarman who was the toast of the nation last year with his gold medal effort in the Commonwealth and Asian Games and collected the Arjuna award just the other day should have only one thing on his mind, getting to the level where it really makes a difference.