The Hindu : Paes exudes confidence

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 25, 2003

Sport

Sport - Tennis

Paes exudes confidence

By Our Sports Reporter

NEW DELHI MAY 24. Though his performance this season has been below par, Leander Paes exudes confidence going into the most hectic part of the tour, starting next week with the French Open at the Roland Garros.

"I have my goals set. I want to do well in the next week's French Open, in both men's and mixed doubles, and then concentrate on Wimbledon,'' Paes said at an informal meet at the Jaypee Greens Golf Resort in Greater Noida near here on Saturday.

Though titles have been far and few for Paes on the 2003 ATP Tour doubles circuit, the Indian Davis Cup spearhead said he was confident of striking the winning combination with his current partner, David Rikl of the Czech Republic.

"Things are going along well for us. Though we haven't won much titles as we would have liked it to, but after making it to the final of the Miami Masters the confidence level is up,'' Paes said.

This season, Paes has won just two titles, the Dubai Open with Rikl, and Delray Beach Open with Nenad Zimonjic of Serbia. And, apart from the semifinal appearances in the Hamburg Masters and the Indian Wells Masters, both with Rikl, there has hardly been much to write about.

But Paes remains optimistic, as ever. And, he remains nostalgic about the Roland Garros and the red clay, which gave him his first Grand Slam title in 1999.

"Though Wimbledon has its own aura and tradition, I somehow like the French Open more. Maybe because I won my first title here, but the ambience wise none can match the French people. They have a great sense of marrying the modern and the ancient architecture which is what the Roland Garros stadium stands for."

Besides the men's doubles, Paes has been giving importance to the mixed doubles events, though they are played only at the four Grand Slams.

"Myself and Martina (Navratilova) won the Australian Open and since we have decided to continue for the rest of the season,'' he said. "She has a zest for life and passion for the game and I have learnt a lot playing alongside her,'' he added.

After these two Grand Slams, India would expect Paes to put up a creditable performance in the Davis Cup World Group play-off against Holland in an away rubber.

Though he refused to comment on India's prospects against the seeded Holland, Paes said that had it been a home tie, India would have been better placed. "Lets see what comes out and I just hope next year we get a World Group qualifier at home.'' India has lost its World Group play-offs for the last four seasons, all being away ties.

As regards to the newly launched National Tennis Academy (NTA) in Gurgaon and whether it would help provide the sort of talent India has been searching ever since he and Mahesh Bhupathi excelled on the world scene, Paes said one should remain patient.

"Rohan Bopanna is a good prospect. His serve is a big weapon but he needs to focus his mind on the game more,'' Paes said.

Paes was here to launch Tennis Centre at the Jaypee Greens, a Greg Norman-Signature course.

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