With three grand slam titles in mixed doubles in 2015, including the US Open, Paes enjoyed a remarkable year for a player aged above 40 while Sania won her second successive grand slam final of the year after Wimbledon.
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Leander Paes, right after his US Open win, has joined the Indian Davis Cup team. I think that helps us through a lot of tough moments on the court.
“In sports the margins are very small”.
An elated Paes said he is feeling “blessed” following a phenomenal year in tennis for him. After sweating it out in a practice session in the national capital, the victor of 19 Grand Slams told The Indian Express that: “Physical fitness will be a huge factor in this tie”. It’s eight in the evening now and it is so humid. Giving him company is Rohan Bopanna.
“Preparations for the olympics are going fantastic”, Leander said. “The rallies are going to be long and whoever controls the first set and wins it, will do well”, he pointed out.
Having run Serbia close in the last World Group play-off in Bengaluru – thanks to the inspiring performances of Paes and Bopanna who turned the tide from two sets and a break down after the opening singles rubbers had been lost and followed up by Somdev Devvarman – India has shown its ability to make a fight of it against strong teams.
“If we go into Saturday being 2-0 up or even at 1-1, it will be great for us”.
A young team, without the services of world No. 6 Tomas Berdych arrived in the early hours of Monday. For them to come here and handle these conditions is something they are used to doing.
“I am really happy the way it has progressed and I would love to get back to the top -8 and play the year-end tournaments which I have missed in the last couple of years”.
“Davis Cup is something very important to me. I would be happy to put one from doubles or mixed doubles along with it”, he said. “It is a conscious decision”.
“I think it is phenomenal achievement by Sania and Leander to be able to win the United States mixed doubles and women’s doubles titles”, he added.
“If I keep playing all the ties that we should win comfortably, then I can play for the next four or five years”. It’s about nurturing the youngsters. He will be coming out in full force to get scalp of me in my own country.
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While the silverware winning feats of such tennis players must prove inspirational, there isn’t sufficient promise at the grassroots level in India.
