Bhupati praises Prakash Amritraj

KOLKATA: India's young Davis Cupper Prakash Amritraj on Thursday got the thumbs up from senior pro Mahesh Bhupathi, who described the talented player as a good future prospect.

"I have great faith in Prakash. I am a great believer in his ability. He is a great prospect for Indian tennis. He can really do well in the coming days," Bhupathi said.

After gaining media space for all the wrong reasons till the first two days of the Asia Oceania Zone Group-1 tie against Uzbekistan last week, Prakash did yeomen's service for the country by defeating Farrukh Dustov in the decider to propel India to a 3-2 victory on the concluding day.

On Sania Mirza's decision to pull out of the WTA event in Bangalore, Bhupathi said the country's top women's tennis star was mentally tired after being constantly hounded by the media and for being repeatedly dragged into controversies.

"This is the only reason she opted out," Bhupathi said.

Asked to comment on speculation that Sania pulled out as his company Globosport, which manages the Hyderabadi's career, was not on good terms with the organisers of the Bangalore event, Bhupathi said, "A lot is being written. Everyone has the right to say or write anything. But it is not necessary that whatever is being said or written is true."

To another query whether Globosport resented at not being allowed to manage the Bangalore Open, Bhupathi shot back, "Last year also, we were not there in that capacity. But Sania did take part."