RUNGKAT Christopher Benjamin

General
DOUBLES FOCUS
He regularly competed in both doubles and singles earlier in his career before deciding to focus on doubles in 2016. "It [prize money from playing singles] allowed me to travel for a few tournaments and came as a timely blessing just when I was about to give up [after he lost sponsorship following his injury lay-off in 2014]. But singles was a completely different challenge and survival was cut-throat. That's when I sat up and thought to myself that maybe that [focusing on doubles] is what I should be doing." (sport, 21 May 2022, 12 Jul 2019; cnnindonesia, 20 May 2022; antaranews, 04 Mar 2022; jolly, 04 Mar 2022; espn, 14 Feb 2020)

EARLY DAYS
He spent time training and travelling with Thai players [and twins] Sanchai Ratiwatana and Sonchat Ratiwatana when he was a teenager. "I give so much credit to Sonchat Ratiwatana and Sanchai Ratiwatana for teaching me not only how to play doubles, but also how to be a professional. It was like having two big brothers who were also my coaches. I was the No.1 player in my country. But I knew nothing about being a professional athlete. Indonesia had no successful tennis players before me whose path I could follow. I would play some ITF junior events and travel with the Ratiwatana brothers on the tour, sleeping on the floor of their room, and also offer up myself as a practice partner to other players looking to warm up. The Ratiwatana twins were mentors to me then, teaching me drills and getting me to tag along in training." (espn, 14 Feb 2020; atptour, 11 Feb 2020)