Indian doubles ace Leander Paes has parted with his Australian partner Paul Hanley. Paes will now be looking to play with Lukas Dlouhy
NEW DELHI: Indian doubles ace Leander Paes has parted with his Australian partner Paul Hanley. Paes will now be looking to play with Lukas Dlouhy of the Czech Republic for the majority of the remaining season. Paes had moved on from former partner Martin Damm (also a Czech) to Hanley at the beginning of the year.
“We were not clicking on court and it was not working out. Paul has some personal issues to sort out and only then will he be able to play better,” Paes said. Hanley is battling a date rape accusation and while Paes refused to elaborate, that is obviously what has got the Aussie preoccupied just as of now. “All I want to say about that issue is that I have known Paul for a long time and I don’t believe he is capable of any such act.”
Dlouhy is ranked 14 in the doubles standings and had made it to two Grand Slam doubles finals last year — Roland Garros and US Open. “He’s solid off the backcourt and just the kind of player I need to bolster my aggressive net play. Lukas has a great work ethic and is in many ways like Martin but just a younger, more fitter version.”
The 25-years-old Dlouhy has been through five partners this year. His success in the slams last year had come in the company of present doubles number five Czech Pavel Vizner who paired beginning this year with Paes erstwhile partner Damm. Meanwhile Paes has slipped to 25 in the rankings.
Paes has for long been on the lookout for a younger player who would have the legs and the heart to make full use of the Indian’s experience. Paes believes that even though they will begin together mid-season they may still have a solid shot at making the season-ending Shanghai Masters.
“I am not counting out Shanghai at all. All we need is a good showing in the remaining Slams and then watch our ranking shoot up. I am looking forward to us doing well at the French Open,” said Paes.
The new pairing makes it less probable that Paes and Bhupathi will be seen in action at the Toronto and Cincinnati Masters Series tournaments in the run-up to the Beijing Olympics. Bhupathi has clarified the two need to play these hardcourt events before the Summer Games to field a strong challenge for a medal. As of now it appears that Paes’ new commitments may make that improbable.
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