Big Bhupathi question: why?

8220;He has done enough and thought he needed to move on,8217;8217; said Piperno, who believes that Bhupathi thought it over long and hard. 8220;If the Indian team does get into the World Group and has to play a tight doubles tie, I8217;m sure he will step in. Whether this decision is reversible, only time will tell, but he should keep his options open,8217;8217; Piperno added.

Piperno also believes that Bhupathi was justified in thinking about his future. 8220;Globosport8217;s taken off successfully, and he has diversified into promoting tennis, so it8217;s getting tougher,8217;8217; he said, adding, 8220;People need to understand that he is getting tired after being around since 1996, that8217;s 10 good years.8217;8217; His one-time coach said, 8220;Not winning Khel Ratna this year must have been a disappointment, too.8217;8217;

Meanwhile, Mahesh8217;s father Krishna Bhupathi pointed a finger at the authorities, obviously referring to AITA8217;s decision to pair up protege Sania Mirza with Leander Paes in the mixed doubles event at the Asian Games in Doha. 8220;He is extremely motivated, and loves playing for the country, but that has been taken away ,8217;8217; he said.

Stressing that the 31-year-old had a lot to offer to Indian tennis, Piperno was, however, emphatic that he would have a word with Bhupathi. As would AITA general secretary Anil Khanna who reacting to the reports said, 8220;Mahesh is too valuable a player, and we will persuade him to play even at the Asian Games, as had been agreed before.8217;8217;

On the Davis Cup commitments, Khanna said that Bhupathi had expressed his reservations about playing the zonal ties almost a year ago, but had gone ahead and competed nevertheless. 8220;I understand if he does not feel like playing the zonal games, but I8217;m sure he8217;ll step in if we make it to the World Group,8217;8217; he said. His pullout from doubles, till now a 1-0 up advantage for India, can cost the team dear in the tricky encounters even in the zonal ties though.

8220;He and Leander just need to play a few tournaments before the Olympics to rekindle their partnership. I8217;m sure I8217;ll be able to convince him to play,8217;8217; Khanna said.

He blames it on 8216;bunch of factors8217;

Mahesh Bhupathi insisted today that he was retiring from team competitions, including the upcoming Doha Asian Games in December. 8220;I am not playing,8221; Bhupathi told PTI when asked whether his decision was final.

Bhupathi said his decision was not sudden but one which he had 8220;been contemplating8221; for a while. 8220;It was due to a bunch of factors. I made the decision based on all circumstances around me,8221; he said. Among the factors he listed were his ambition to win the Australian Open and the feeling that the Davis Cup team could manage without him in the zonal ties.

Both these, however, were tied to the third but most important factor 8212; his inability to renew his partnership with Paes on the ATP Tour. 8220;I spoke to Leander during the ATP event and he said that after winning the US Open with Martin Damm, it would be difficult for him to break that pairing,8221; Bhupathi said. 8220;Maybe if they had not won the US Open, things might have been different. But fortunately or unfortunately, they won.8221; PTI