Recalling an old story; how Rika Hiraki met Mahesh Bhupathi

Yet,even after hanging up her boots 11 years ago,Hiraki,who helped India win its first Grand Slam when she partnered Mahesh Bhupathi at Roland Garros,still fondly remembers the events of May 1997.

Hiraki had originally been paired with compatriot Satoshi Iwabuchi to compete in the mixed doubles event in Paris. However,the latter8217;s schedule forced him to withdraw from the tournament days.

As a 26-year old Hiraki ventured into the players8217; lounge on the eve of the deadline,she bumped into Bhupathi.

We had walked past each other but then he turned around and asked me if I was looking for a doubles partner, she says,smiling brightly as she recalls the incident. That was probably the only conversation we had before we met on the court for our first game a week later.

Hiraki fondly remembers the events that unfurled as the newly-formed pair won the tournament,making her the first Japanese player in 22 years to win a Grand Slam,and Bhupathi the first Indian.

We weren8217;t talking much in our first ever set together. When we were 5-2 down,I saw a team in the adjoining court chatting between points and coordinating. Mahesh was very quiet so I thought he was angry. But when I approached him,he told me this was his first mixed doubles tournament. He was just as nervous as I was, she explains,laughing.

The pair lost that opening set but went on an impressive run,eventually beating Lisa Raymond and Patrick Galbraith in the final.

They competed together at Wimbledon and the US Open later before splitting.

We were to pair together again,but he had a new coach and they decided on a new partner, she says. Bhupathi went on to partner another Japanese player,Ai Sugiyama,to win the US Open mixed doubles in 1999.

On the court,Hiraki8217;s double-handed forehand and backhand were a key aspect of her game. Off the court though,she famously travelled with a laptop to finish her work for NTT,with whom she has worked with since 1994.

Her professional career never got in the way of her tennis,nor did her tennis get in the way of her work.

There was always a balance. I somehow always managed to work well mainly because I wanted to do both, she says.

Since her retirement in 2002,Hiraki works at the company on weekdays while conducting coaching clinics on weekends. The memories she treasures reside within the realms of a tennis court.

I met Mahesh a few years ago at the French Open. It was good to meet him and it brought back a lot of memories of 1997, she says. If I had the option,I wouldn8217;t go back on Tour because of the tennis,I would go back to meet the friends I made when I was there, she concludes.