The press interaction involving Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna at the Aircel Chennai Open on Tuesday was marked by long silences and sporadic questions.
With most queries being identical in nature, the responses were understandably snappy. Bhupathi chose to focus on the present when asked about his chances in the Olympics.
“We have to be selected first. I don't pick the team. We are playing on the tour. That is the focus here. We are at the Chennai Open and Olympics is seven months away.”
The 37-year-old was more definitive (“most certainly”) when asked whether his new partner would play alongside him at the Australian Open. Bhupathi, however, said the teething problems that came along with a new partnership would be sorted out once they started playing.
“I don't think we can notice anything until we start playing matches. It is a new partnership with Rohan. I have played with six different partners during the last five years. I have been successful with all the partners I have played with. Rohan is a top player and he has proved in the last two years that he can play at the highest levels. There is no doubt we are going to jell well and how quickly we do that is up to us.”
Bopanna, whose role in the media conference was minimal, concurred with Bhupathi's line of thought. He also didn't rule out the possibility of pairing up with Sania Mirza at the Olympics.
“It is still a possibility. Olympics is a long way to go. We are yet to qualify for it. Sania is playing a lot of singles and doubles. As far as I know, I don't think you can go to the Olympics only for mixed doubles. You have to be part of the singles or doubles teams. But if I get a chance, why not.”
