Perseverance Paes

After US Open high, the Indian says he8217;s still learning and gelling well with Damm

A seventh Grand Slam title and proof enough to suggest that perseverance pays. That8217;s Indian doubles ace Leander Paes who, on Sunday, could not have better demonstrated his passion, hunger and determination to succeed 8212; come what may.

For critics who doubted the Kolkatian8217;s ability of winning a Grand Slam title without Mahesh Bhupathi, the Louis Armstrong Stadium bore testimony to a victory that both during their prime could not achieve. For Paes, in the company of Czech Republic8217;s Martin Damm, showed that age was no factor in their quest of individual glory.

While both Paes and Damm are one of the two elder statesmen on the ATP Doubles Tour8212; agewise only second to Daniel Nestor and Mark Knowles 8212;the final against Max Mirnyi and Jonas Bjorkman, as Paes put it, was 8220;the result of perseverance8221;.

For Paes it was his seventh Slam title, while Damm became the first Czech to take home a Grand Slam doubles title since Cyril Suk won the 8216;98 US Open . He also becomes the first Czech Slam champion in any senior event since Leos Friedl and Daniela Hantuchova took home the Wimbledon mixed doubles title in 2001.

Having achieved personal milestones respectively, the 6-7, 6-4, 6-3 win in their maiden year as a pair meant a lot to Paes, particularly when at the start of the year barring the Australian Open final the duo went though an average run raising doubts on the pair8217;s potential.

However, as Paes kept harping, 8220;we are learning,8221; both kept their focus and worked on their communication 8212; something that simply worked in their favour owing to their respective ages. Says Paes: 8220;Damm is solid, hard working and willing to learn.8221;

The attributes, he said, made the team into a winning combination. He was also humble enough to admit that Damm taught him a lot. Damm, a couple of months older to the Indian, taught Paes how to balance the tour and family. 8220;Damm, a father of two, was obviously someone to look up to in this regard,8221; Paes added. Having made his point, Damm has always confessed that Paes, for all that he is, will remain best in the business, which interestingly is the type of bonhomie the Indian also shared with another Czech 8212; David Rikl his partner three years ago.

Story continues below this ad

Not committed about the next year, Paes and Damm have the Masters Cup in Shanghai as their next target. As far as individual milestones are concerned, Paes needs the Australian Open men8217;s doubles title to complete a personal Grand Slam.

As Martina Navratilova in her adieu speech on Sunday put it, 8220;when you play long enough, good things happen.8221; The victory that Paes and Damm earned surely had parellels. Paes sentimentally agreed, 8220;how true!8221;