It’s not easy this time

They play unfancied Romanians Andrei Pavel and Gabriel Trifu in their opening round match and if they win that, meet the Woodies who have a first-round bye.

Bhupathi and Paes’ problem is a lack of match readiness because they have only just paired up again after splitting late last year. Their rustiness was evident at the recent US Open where they were knocked out in the first round.

Their break helped Woodbridge and Woodforde, the Olympic champions, climb back to the top of the world men’s doubles rankings and raised hopes of a strong home country showing in probably their last tournament together.

The last time the Indians and Australians played each other was in the semifinals of the World Doubles Championships last November when Bhupathi and Paes edged the match.

But this year the Australians, the most successful doubles pair ever, have dominated again and took their Grand Slam title record to 11 with wins at the French Open and Wimbledon.

India’s other medal hope is its men’s hockey side but team officials have also been banking on Bhupathi and Paes. "We have a lot of expectations of the men’s doubles team," Indian Chef de Mission Ashok Mattoo said this week.

Paes, India’s flag-bearer at the Opening Ceremony, is also in the men’s singles, in which he won a bronze in Atlanta. He meets Swede Mikael Tillstrom in the opening round.

The Woodies have said the Olympics would be their last tournament together since Woodforde is retiring, although they may represent Australia in the Davis Cup final in Spain in December.

(Reuters)