Mourning Paes, seeks peace and success without Bhupathi

The world’s rop ranked doubles player, a wild card in singles in the $ 1 million event which started last evening, will take on Spaniard Fernando Vicente in the first round.

“With Mahesh’s injury and shoulder operation, we have broken up temporarily,” Paes told the Gulf News. “Our future depends on how fast and how well Mahesh recoveres,” he said.

“We will have to see when he can come back. He underwent shoulder surgery in New York on December 6. He is expected to miss most of the 2000 season. It is too premature to say what the future holds for us,” said Paes.

“Currently I am concentrating on looking after myself. I am paying attention to my singles ranking as this will help get me in the main draw at tournaments,” he added.

The Indian star has struggled with his doubles campaign this year with other players. He and partner Sebastian Lareau of Canada crashed out of the Australian Open in first round. Paes, playing with Syed Fazaluddin, also lost the doubles in the Davis Cup tie against Lebanon.

But the Indian was hopeful of teaming up with Bhupathi for the Olympics and said the two will have a real chance of claiming the gold.

“Sydney presents us with a realistic chance of winning a medal,” he said. “I have three goals for this year, the Olympics, improving my singles ranking and getting India back into the World Group in the Davis Cup.”

Paes said he has to focus on his singles career because of the new ATP ranking system. “It is necessary because if you don’t do well in singles this year, the next year is going to be toughe,” he said.

He said he was determined to improve his singles ranking and was playing Challengers and concentrating on his training to get back into the top 100, from where he slipped last year.

Paes reached a career high ATP ranking of 75 in 1998 — the year in which he won his only ATP singles title at the Hall of Fame, Newport (USA). He also had a memorable victory over the then world number one Pete Sampras in the Mercedes Super 9 tournament at New Haven the same year.

Though the emphasis will be on singles, Paes said he will not neglect doubles play which fetched him $ 2.25 million (about Rs 10.67 crore) in prize money so far. “I will travel to tournaments looking for partners every week.”

He does not rule out a long term partnership depending on getting a suitable match. “But being an Olympic year it is important that I should play with Mahesh.”

Reflecting on his future he said he has to nurture the next 3-4 years of his career as he will be 27 in five months. “The body is ageing…everything is getting harder from now on.” (PTI)