The Hindu : Sport / Tennis : ‘Let’s leave our issues behind and play together’

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‘Let’s leave our issues behind and play together’

Special Correspondent

Bhupathi concerned about playing world’s best without practice
Paes makes a plea to Bhupathi to forget differences

NEW DELHI: The Beijing Olympics may be just over two months away but Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi, who, as a doubles combination, are possibly the nation’s best medal hope, have just warmed up with verbal volleys.

While ten-time Grand Slam champion Bhupathi has expressed concerns about the lack of communication from Paes and the All India Tennis Association, the Atlanta Olympics individual bronze medallist asserts that the two would be best prepared to face the challenge as long as they continued to compete at the highest level week after week.

“It is too late now. I put my hat in the ring. Nobody put anything into it, and I have put the hat back on my head,” said Bhupathi, as he spoke to The Hindu from London, emphasising that he was tired of waiting for a positive response towards a meaningful preparation for the Olympic Games.

Reacting to Bhupathi’s concerns about facing some of the best singles players in the world in the doubles competition, Paes said: “Where is the need to worry about such things? We had beaten Federer and Allegro and Roddick and Fish the last time in Athens, when we came so close to winning a medal. As long as we are match-sharp, stay healthy and injury free, playing the professional circuit week after week with our different partners, we will be ready for Beijing.

“No other team has better background than us, including the Bryans (Bob and Mike),” said Paes.

The 34-year-old Paes stressed that the off-court vibes may have been vitiated in recent times but the duo still enjoyed good chemistry on court.

“We have history behind us. We were World No.1 and have won Grand Slams together when we played the tour on the same side of the court for eight years. There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that we are the best pair to represent the country,” said Paes.

On the point that the camp proposed by the AITA in Mumbai the week after Wimbledon may not be suitable as it would be raining then, Paes said that the camp could be anywhere in the world.

“Two weeks is a good time to train together and we can do it anywhere in the world, not necessarily in Mumbai. We can also play tournaments. I am not able to commit more than that because six months into the year I have been forced to change partners and have to work that much more with my new Czech partner (Lukas Dlouhy) to get the results that would help us make the year-end Masters event,” said Paes.

‘Bopanna has recovered’

On being queried on whether it would be judicious to play an injured Rohan Bopanna in the Olympics, Bhupathi said: “If we go prepared with Rohan, we do have a chance. If we go unprepared with Leander, we don’t stand a chance, as the competition is intense. Rohan has recovered from his knee injury and he is fine.”

Meanwhile, Paes made a plea to Bhupathi to forget their differences and just focus on preparing for the Beijing Games.

“It is childish for both of us to be fighting this way. We will only be the losers if we don’t come together, and we are perhaps putting more pressure on ourselves to get that Olympic medal,” said Paes, interacting with the media while here on a sponsor commitment on Thursday.

‘Talk to me’

He stressed that Bhupathi should not hesitate talking to him directly, rather than writing letters to the AITA or the Indian Olympic Association.

“I request Bhupathi to think hard and think clear. He should change his decision as there is no doubt about which is the best doubles team in the country. Playing for the country is bigger than two individuals,” he said.

Paes admitted that it was tough for him to initiate contact after what he has had to weather in recent months.

He also said if Bhupathi had suggestions, it had to be looked at. He warned that playing tournaments together could be counter-productive as it could potentially exacerbate the tension between the two.

“The idea is to go to Beijing, fresh, healthy and with the same goal in mind, to get the gold. It has to be remembered that even if you are playing unbelievable, the difference in the end, especially with the new format could be just one shot.

“We both have to prepare in our own ways, and be ready to perform,” he said.

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