‘Things didn’t go my way’
Bhupathi Explains Why He Won’t Play For India Anymore
Prajwal Hegde I TNN
Bangalore: Mahesh Bhupathi may have shut the door on playing for India again but he has left a window open. The doubles specialist, who on Monday announced that he wouldn’t be representing India henceforth in international competitions like the Asian Games and Davis Cup, said he hadn’t yet ruled out the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
While Bhupathi listed a number of reasons for his move, the selection committee’s decision to play Leander Paes alongside Sania Mirza in the mixed doubles for the Asian Games, to be held in Doha in December, seems to be the final nail.
Bhupathi has a superb record in mixed doubles. He won three successive Grand Slam crowns with three different partners, starting at Wimbledon last year. The selection panel, however, went with form. Paes, ranked No. 9 in world doubles, won the US Open men’s double title alongside Martin Damm last month.
Excerpts
When did you arrive at this decision?
I have been thinking about it for sometime now. It was nothing specific, just a mixture of things. I had discussed this with Anil Khanna (AITA secretary) last year itself and he had told me to wait for a year at least. In the Davis Cup, it doesn’t make sense having two doubles specialists especially since Rohan (Bopanna) and Prakash (Amritraj) are capable of playing good doubles. When we are playing away we need the option of three singles players.
Also, I want to focus on winning the Australian Open doubles. That is the only doubles title I haven’t won. We have a long season and there is not much time to take a break and prepare for the season ahead if I go on playing till the end of the year. Once I had made the decision it held good from that moment onwards.
Did the Asian Games selection seal the decision for you?
It was one of the factors. A lot of things didn’t go my way and the selection for the Asian Games was one of them.
I spoke to Leander (Paes) about playing together for the next two years (keeping the Olympics in mind). He told me there was a chance for that had they (Paes and Martin Damm) not won the US Open. It was another one of those things that didn’t go my way. May be I need to focus my energy elsewhere, like off court, where things seem to be working for me.
Are you looking at retirement?
No. I am certainly going to play the 2007 season. I’ll finalise on a partner during the indoor season.
Don’t you think you deserved another shot at an Olympic medal?
The Olympics is not a closed chapter. Beijing is two years away and a lot can happen in two years. I have sacrificed a lot playing for the country. The last Olympic Games cost me a lot, it cost me the last two years of my career. I was playing with Max Mirnyi at that point in time and I had to give it up. There are only so many sacrifices you can make and only so much of the roughside of life you want to take.
QUOTE SHOOT
Mahesh’s decision comes as a surprise as I have not been informed directly by him. In fact, he confirmed with me that we would be playing the Asian Games, the Davis Cup and the Olympics in 2008. The Mumbai Open was a prelude to the Asian Games which I believe would have been valuable match practice. However, Mahesh had prior commitments and chose not to play with me, which I do respect. The only discussion we had was for playing the ATP tour in 2007. It would be unprofessional at this stage, having spent an entire year nurturing my partnership with Martin Damm which is beginning to yield results, to now change partners. Mahesh understands the game and, he has stated, respects that. I hope we do play the Asian Games, Davis Cup and Olympics 2008 for India together. Leander Paes | DAVIS CUP
CAPTAIN
It is a hasty decision. From what I have read and heard on television it is because Leander couldn’t commit to playing with him before the 2008 Olympic Games. I don’t think it was Leander saying no to Mahesh, but Leander saying no to any other partner other than Martin Damm. Both of them are superstars and we could have sat down and discussed this thing through.
Bhupathi Explains Why He Won’t Play For India Anymore
Prajwal Hegde I TNN
Bangalore: Mahesh Bhupathi may have shut the door on playing for India again but he has left a window open. The doubles specialist, who on Monday announced that he wouldn’t be representing India henceforth in international competitions like the Asian Games and Davis Cup, said he hadn’t yet ruled out the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
While Bhupathi listed a number of reasons for his move, the selection committee’s decision to play Leander Paes alongside Sania Mirza in the mixed doubles for the Asian Games, to be held in Doha in December, seems to be the final nail.
Bhupathi has a superb record in mixed doubles. He won three successive Grand Slam crowns with three different partners, starting at Wimbledon last year. The selection panel, however, went with form. Paes, ranked No. 9 in world doubles, won the US Open men’s double title alongside Martin Damm last month.
Excerpts
When did you arrive at this decision?
I have been thinking about it for sometime now. It was nothing specific, just a mixture of things. I had discussed this with Anil Khanna (AITA secretary) last year itself and he had told me to wait for a year at least. In the Davis Cup, it doesn’t make sense having two doubles specialists especially since Rohan (Bopanna) and Prakash (Amritraj) are capable of playing good doubles. When we are playing away we need the option of three singles players.
Also, I want to focus on winning the Australian Open doubles. That is the only doubles title I haven’t won. We have a long season and there is not much time to take a break and prepare for the season ahead if I go on playing till the end of the year. Once I had made the decision it held good from that moment onwards.
Did the Asian Games selection seal the decision for you?
It was one of the factors. A lot of things didn’t go my way and the selection for the Asian Games was one of them.
I spoke to Leander (Paes) about playing together for the next two years (keeping the Olympics in mind). He told me there was a chance for that had they (Paes and Martin Damm) not won the US Open. It was another one of those things that didn’t go my way. May be I need to focus my energy elsewhere, like off court, where things seem to be working for me.
Are you looking at retirement?
No. I am certainly going to play the 2007 season. I’ll finalise on a partner during the indoor season.
Don’t you think you deserved another shot at an Olympic medal?
The Olympics is not a closed chapter. Beijing is two years away and a lot can happen in two years. I have sacrificed a lot playing for the country. The last Olympic Games cost me a lot, it cost me the last two years of my career. I was playing with Max Mirnyi at that point in time and I had to give it up. There are only so many sacrifices you can make and only so much of the roughside of life you want to take.
QUOTE SHOOT
Mahesh’s decision comes as a surprise as I have not been informed directly by him. In fact, he confirmed with me that we would be playing the Asian Games, the Davis Cup and the Olympics in 2008. The Mumbai Open was a prelude to the Asian Games which I believe would have been valuable match practice. However, Mahesh had prior commitments and chose not to play with me, which I do respect. The only discussion we had was for playing the ATP tour in 2007. It would be unprofessional at this stage, having spent an entire year nurturing my partnership with Martin Damm which is beginning to yield results, to now change partners. Mahesh understands the game and, he has stated, respects that. I hope we do play the Asian Games, Davis Cup and Olympics 2008 for India together. Leander Paes | DAVIS CUP
CAPTAIN
It is a hasty decision. From what I have read and heard on television it is because Leander couldn’t commit to playing with him before the 2008 Olympic Games. I don’t think it was Leander saying no to Mahesh, but Leander saying no to any other partner other than Martin Damm. Both of them are superstars and we could have sat down and discussed this thing through.
