Hesh146;s Perfect 10 Slam-dunk

Nine years, 10 Slams. Today8217;s win, in the company of Martina Hingis, was special for Mahesh Bhupathi not just because his Slam count en...

Nine years, 10 Slams. Today8217;s win, in the company of Martina Hingis, was special for Mahesh Bhupathi not just because his Slam count entered double figures but because it completed the set: the Australian Open was the only one missing from his impressive roster.

8216;8216;It8217;s a great feeling8217;8217;, Bhupathi told The Indian Express today, 8216;8216;more so because it completes a career Grand Slam, which is a feat few achieve.8217;8217;

Hingis was Bhupathi8217;s 14th mixed doubles partner since that first win with Rika Hiraki in 1997. He seems to have a knack for getting along with people.

8216;8216;It8217;s easy gel with players who are settled and know what is expected of them8217;8217;, he says. 8216;8216;But then only six titles have come my way. There have been difficulties previously. Like losing in the first round. So I guess it all boils down to how lucky one can get.8217;8217;

Today8217;s win 8212; against Daniel Nestor and Elena Likhovtseva, the latter one of his ex-partners 8212; came in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3. But Bhupathi is quick to point out that it was as easy as it seems. 8216;8216;Straight sets don8217;t portray the real on-court effort. It was a seea-saw battle.8217;8217;

He paid tribute to his partner, back in competitive tennis after a lengthy lay-off. 8216;8216;The fact that she match up to the quality of tennis needed after a three-year absence is amazing. The pace is obviously different from the last time she played on the circuit.8217;8217;

This partnership will probably continue, he says, though it depends on Hingis8217;s fitness. 8216;8216;We8217;ve spoken about it and Martina wants to play more doubles, though how much is the question.8217;8217;

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And Bhupathi himself? Where does he go from here? 8216;8216;Let me enjoy the feeling for a while8217;8217;, he protests. 8216;8216;Retiring is surely not on the cards, but any title from now will be a bonus. My next ambition would be to win the Australian Open men8217;s doubles title which would make it a complete career Grand Slam.8217;8217;

Hesh8217;s Un mixed success

1997: French Open Rika Hiraki
1999: US Open Ai Sugiyama
2002: Wimbledon Elena Likhovtseva
2005: Wimbledon Mary Pierce
2005 US Open Daniela Hantuchova
2006: Australian Open Martina Hingis