Dubai: Fresh from making a climb in the rankings, the ageless Leander Paes has vouched his future for the country’s Davis Cup encounters.
With the 300 points earned in Dubai, he is expected to move up the rankings in doubles to at least No. 40 from his present world No. 52 — something which would pose a selection headache for the All India Tennis Association (AITA) when they deliberate the national squad for India’s crucial Asia/Oceania Zone Group 1 Davis Cup second round in Tianjin on April 6-7.
Only the best ranked players in the preceding weeks are eligible as per the selection criteria normally followed by participating nations. However, Indian tennis has always been plagued by controversy on more than one occasion in the past.
The latest flare-up happened last year when India presumably sent out an under-strength squad to Canada for their crucial Davis Cup World Group play-off in Edmonton. Canada earned their spot back in the 16-nation World Group while India had to return to the drawing board once again while trying to advance from Asia/Oceania Group I in 2018 and get to the play-offs stage.
With Mahesh Bhupathi as non-playing captain, Rohan Bopanna is the highest-ranked doubles player at No. 20 on Sunday, while youngster Divij Sharan is at No. 45 followed by Paes at No. 52. However, the new rankings on Monday [today] will witness a shift with Bopanna possibly moving inside the top-20 while the 44-year-old Paes will leapfrog Sharan and advance at least till No. 40.
“I’ve already created my history in the Davis Cup. But that said, if I get to play, I’d love to play for my country. That always comes first on my list,” Paes said.
“I have nothing more to prove to anyone. If at all I am still playing tennis, working hard to stay fit at this age it is all because I want to do something for myself. I am really enjoying what I am doing. And if they do ask me to come and play for India, then there is no question that I won’t,” he added.
The 44-year-old Kolkata-born is considered a legend all over the world. In a career spanning nearly three decades, Paes has won eight doubles and 10 mixed doubles Grand Slam titles alone apart from starting off as a junior Wimbledon champion. He is also the oldest man to have won a Grand Slam title. His mixed doubles at Wimbledon in 1999 made him only the second man, after Rod Laver, to win the championships titles in three decades.
He won a bronze medal for India in singles at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games and he holds the rare record of being the first Indian and only tennis player to compete at seven Olympic Games between 1992 and 2016. In Davis Cup, his win-loss record of 42-13 is untouchable with most of his success coming up in the company of Bhupathi.
“What more can I possibly prove to anyone with all these achievements?” he queried.
