Mahesh Bhupathi is, as they say, a much more ‘chilled out' person these days. Life has been good to him as he and wife Lara are expecting their first child within the next few weeks, his business enterprise is thriving and at 37 years, he is still playing at the highest level — and winning.
"Yes, I am very excited about the new addition to the family, it's barely six weeks away," he said when Gulf News caught up with him over phone in Mumbai. It was barely a day after his actor-wife Lara's baby shower was covered with much fanfare by the media. Sitting in the Mumbai headquarters of his company, the doubles ace sounded at peace with the way things have panned out for him over the last year or so.
While tennis still remains a passion for him, the other half of the once more estranged ‘Indian Express' admits that life is no longer about just tennis any more. This is probably the reason that he can absorb the hurt of having to part ways with Leander Paes much more easily despite having a rocking 2011 together.
Couldn't the split have been avoided, especially after a season where the two middle-aged statesmen of Indian tennis finished with a strong 32-13 win loss record? "Leander did not want to play with me…that's as blunt as I can get about it. At this stage of my career, I need to have fun to play and as you are probably aware, I will be playing with Rohan Bopanna," Bhupathi said during the interview.
For those used to tracking the stories of their earlier dramatic splits in the first decade of 2000, the surprise element was surely missing this time — the reaction was more akin to the ‘not again' variety. It remains to be seen if Bhupathi can add to his ever-growing list of Grand Slam doubles titles in the company of his new and younger partner, but he also makes it clear that hell will not break loose if that doesn't happen.
"Yes, we [with Leander] had a very good last season when we managed to beat the current world number one pair Bryan brothers twice. The new year will bring about fresh challenges with a new partner but I don't set any goals before new seasons any more. The idea is now to play in as many big tournaments as possible and do well there," he said.
Olympic hopes
Well, after 16 years on the Tour and 11 Grand Slam doubles titles under his belt, Bhupathi can certainly afford to say so. Will it make no difference that 2012 is also the Olympics year, which will see him taking part in his last Games? "Yes, it's certainly special as it's the one tournament where I don't have a medal. This year will be particularly memorable as it's immediately after the Wimbledon," he said.
It's been a long and fascinating journey for a gawky, unheralded product of American collegiate tennis when Bhupathi made his debut in Davis Cup in 1995. Jaideep Mukherjea, the then non-playing captain of the Indian team, was quick to spot the X-factor in the big-serving boy and preferred him over Zeeshan Ali as the second singles player with Paes.
"In hindsight, I must say it's been a fascinating journey. I consider myself lucky to be able to achieve what I have and still be able to compete at the highest level. As for future plans, I take one year at a time now," said Bhupathi most matter-of-factly.
It was eight years back that Bhupathi, like his friend Paes, decided to delve into sports management with the formation of Globosport in his hometown Bengaluru. The company, much like Bhupathi, has come a long way by adding on a new company, Big Daddy Productions — which produces feature films and TV software as per clients' requirements.
How does it really leave time for tennis for him, which is serious business at the highest level? "See, the company has been in existence for eight years now and is a corporate entity which takes care of itself. There are professionals for different operations while my sister Kavita is the CEO — so it's not exactly that I am doing the running around myself.
"The difference between now and say five years back is that after all these years of experience I know how much the body can take in terms of preparation. I have begun my off-season training this month with Bopanna and enjoying every bit of it," said Bhupathi, who will kickstart his campaign for the new season with the Chennai Open in January.
Giving back to the game
At the twilight of his and Paes' career, it's also perhaps time to weigh their contribution to Indian tennis — which is replete with tales of the Indian Express' guts'n glory success in Davis Cup campaigns as well as on Tour. Bhupathi, however, is loath to do this: "That's not really not for me to decide."
"As a player, I have always strived to give of my best. We have opened nearly 40 academies in several nooks and corners of the country as well as one in Dubai. It's not feasible for me to travel to all the academies physically but Gaurav Natekar — whose name needs no introduction — is our director of coaching and it's in good hands. The biggest challenge in running academies is to coach the coaches and this is what we are trying to do.
"However, it's not for me to sit in judgment and find out whether I made any tangible contribution to Indian tennis," he says in his trademark laconic style.
From a serious tennis player to a successful businessman and now, very much a Page Three person. How has all these changed him as a person? "I don't think I have changed as a person. It's just that if I was doing one thing [read: tennis] before, I am dividing my time between two things now," Bhupathi signed off.
