On Saturday, Mahesh Bhupathi notched up his 43rd ATP doubles win along with Mark Knowles of Bahamas
DUBAI: While the All India Tennis Association is sticking to its stand of backing Leander Paes in the revolt episode for his ‘long and illustrious service’ to the nation, Mahesh Bhupathi, the supposedly mentor for the rebels, is inching away further on the head to head career-win graph of the Indian Express.
On Saturday, he notched up his 43rd ATP doubles win along with Mark Knowles of Bahamas when the fourth seeds beat Paes’ erstwhile partner Martin Damm and Pavel Vizner of the Czech Republic and seeded third at the Dubai Open Tennis Championships. Paes, meanwhile, is lagging behind with 39 wins.
After the 7-5 7-6(7) win, Bhupathi reiterated that no further developments have taken place with the AITA issuing a Monday deadline for the other Davis Cup team members to fall in line and play under Paes for the upcoming home tie against Japan. “Nothing’s changed from our side though talks have been happening on a daily basis.”
What has indeed changed for Bhupathi are two welcome back-to-back wins and a semifinal appearance at the Australian Open with his new partner Knowles. “We compliment each other nicely. Knowles is good on the ground strokes and attacks the net well and I am good in the air. And we have been good friends for 15 years,” said Bhupathi about the new chapter.
The two began their new partnership during the Australian swing after injury prevented Bhupathi from teaming up with Knowles as planned after the 2007 US Open. They made an impressive run at the year’s first Grand Slam, defeating two-time defending champions Bob and Mike Bryan en route to the Australian Open semifinals. Paes had lost in the second round itself.
It was nice and subtle chemistry between the two though neither of them is known to overpower their opponents. If Knowles showed better anticipation in moving across the court and had lesser unforced errors, Bhupathi served out the team’s way out of tight situations.
After holding serve in the first set till the 11th game, it was Knowles who took on Vizner’s serve just when it mattered and targeted his court more after he looked visibly the weaker link.
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