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Paes in line for doubles double

New York: Nine years after his twin crowns at Wimbledon, Leander Paes is hoping to repeat his feat at the US Open this year. Having reached the finals of both men’s and the mixed doubles here, Paes is recalling the 1999 Wimbledon and reckons this is going to be special for him.

“I think 2008 in New York is going to be special,” said the Indian ace, after he and his Czech partner Lukas Dlouhy thumped Argentine pair Maximo Gonzales and Juan Monaco 6-2, 6-0 in just 46 minutes to storm into the men’s doubles final.

Paes and his Zimbabwean partner Cara Black have already made it to the mixed doubles final.

In 1999, Paes had partnered Mahesh Bhupathi and Lisa Raymonds to win the men’s doubles and mixed doubles crowns at Wimbledon.

“I was much younger back then,” said Paes, recalling the feat.

Short work

Paes was particularly happy with the show against the Argentines. He said: “When you finish the semifinal of a Grand Slam in 46 minutes, you’re always happy.

“It was one of the fastest matches I had in my career. The balls looked like watermelons out there.”

Made to play twice on Tuesday, Paes was also happy to get some rest before turning up for the mixed doubles final.

“They made me play twice and I was scheduled early. Now I can go back and relax,” he said.

On his partnership with Dlouhy, Paes said, “It’s going very well right now. Lukas is crazy just as I am. He’s also very hard working. That’s why it’s working out so well.”

Though he cherishes all his Grand Slam titles, Paes insists the highlight of his career is the bronze medal he won in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

“Nothing will ever better my Olympic medal,” he said.

“Let me remind you it was in singles. That’s the epitome of my career,” Paes added. PTI

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