At precisely 6 am on an overcast December morning, GVK Group founder and CMD GV Krishna Reddy briskly makes his way to the tennis court that forms a part of his sprawling residence in Hyderabad’s upmarket Banjara Hills area. “I am 78 and fit as a fiddle,” says Reddy, wearing a white T-shirt that bears the GVK logo and matching shorts. This is his daily routine — Reddy starts his day at 5 am. “I do an hour of yoga before a round of tennis.” Tennis is a part of Reddy’s life and it has been this way ever since his college days.

“I played a lot of volleyball as well. Tennis took a bit of a break on account of work. But starting from 1975, I have been playing the game every morning,” he says. Each game — Reddy plays doubles — lasts for 90 minutes. “I am quite fussy about these games and do not miss them even if I have a flight to catch at 8.30 or 9 am,” he adds. Reddy’s regime is deceptively simple: the game involves two sets. And he has won both this morning. 

“Obviously, I am quite competitive. I take these games very seriously. I do not like to lose in general, and tennis is no exception,” he says, bluntly. Reddy has a neat little tennis court at home, so he does not have to haggle for time at the local club house. “I used to find it diffi