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Rohan Bopanna keeps Leander Paes' 7th Olympic dream alive after agreeing to partner him

This averted a crisis in Indian tennis after India's No.1 men's doubles player, Bopanna, picked Saketh Myneni as his first-choice partner a day earlier.

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Leander Paes and Rohan Bopanna
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All's well that ends well!

As expected, Rohan Bopanna agreed to pair up with six-time Olympian Leander Paes, minutes after getting the final nod on Saturday from the All India Tennis Association (AITA) to partner with Sania Mirza in the mixed doubles category in the Rio Olympic games.

This averted a crisis in Indian tennis after India's No.1 men's doubles player, Bopanna, picked Saketh Myneni as his first-choice partner a day earlier.

The day started with the AITA selection committee naming Paes as Bopanna's partner, going against its own policy of giving the choice to the world's top 10-ranked player to choose his pair in the men's doubles. Before doing so, the selectors okayed the Bopanna-Sania Mirza pair for the mixed doubles category to avoid a controversy.

With his wish coming true, Bopanna issued an official statement, acceding to the AITA's decision without any resistance. However, his statement did mention the reason why he decided against partnering with world No. 46 Paes in the men's doubles and opted for Myneni, who is India's fifth-ranked doubles player and world No. 125.

"The AITA selection committee has made its decision after due consideration of my representation and has selected the team for the Olympics. I respect this decision and look forward to participating in Rio," said Bopanna, clearing the decks for Paes' record seventh Olympic appearance.

However, he did explain how his own style does not match with that of Paes. "I have much admiration for Paes and his many achievements, but unfortunately we have not been able to put together a good combination despite our best efforts and I do not believe our styles of play are either compatible or complementary. Considering that this is a team event where two individuals need to gel together to do well, regardless of individual achievements, it is the team and the combination that matters.

"I had chosen Saketh based on a careful weighing of whose game will complement mine at Rio, given my own skills, strengths and weaknesses. As you will see from my track record, I have consistently had success with partners who have big weapons -- a serve and a forehand. In that sense, the ranking of the player in doubles is far less important than what he brings to the partnership. I have played with over 70 partners in my career and that has given me the ability to gauge what type of player works well with me and what doesn't," added Bopanna.

AITA president Anil Khanna, though, didn't reveal Sania's choice for her partner. But he did mention the reasoning behind the pairings for Rio. He said that Bopanna never mentioned he won't pair with Paes in his letter.

"We went by rankings," he emphasised, adding: "We did think of that (Bopanna's letter) but felt the combination of Bopanna and Sania would be better. Sania plays the right court while Bopanna plays the left. It will give Sania better support."

Can Davis pairing break ice?

In order to give Bopanna and Paes time to sort out their 'differences' and get some real practice together, AITA on Saturday also named both in India's Davis Cup squad for next month's tie against South Korea in Chandigarh. In fact, AITA, for the first time, named a seven-member team for the Davis Cup after Paes made himself available for the tie.

Yuki Bhambri, Ramkumar Ramanathan, Bopanna, Paes, Myneni, Sumit Nagal and Vishnu Vardhan have made themselves available for the July 15-17 grass court tie. "The purpose behind naming Paes and Bopanna is to make them play together. We are going to request them to reach Chandigarh latest by July 12 as the Wimbledon will be finishing on July 10. It's an appropriate time for them to overcome any feeling of discomfort and mistrust.

We all will be there to help them invoke the right spirit of Olympics. The tie will be crucial in helping them put aside differences," AITA president Anil Khanna said while announcing the team.

When Khanna was asked about why there's complete mistrust among the top Indian tennis players and whether it wasn't a failure on the part of AITA that a selection drama ensues before every Olympics, the AITA chief blamed it on the players' big egos and self-esteem.

"Their own personalities have become so huge that they are bound to have big egos and self-esteem. You say one word and they create a mountain out of a molehill. Basically, it's the lack of communication between them.

They are mature people and they should sort out the issues on the tour itself. At least, for the Olympics, they should come together," explained Khanna.

Talking about the selection process, Khanna said due importance was given to rankings, past performances, winning percentage, and the experience of representing the nation at the international stage.

"Even if Bopanna had finished outside top 10, he would have only got Paes to partner with. The only Asian team to represent on a regional basis and combined rankings taken together would be Paes-Bopanna. Also, Paes and Bopanna have played four times in the Davis Cup and they have a 2-2 win-loss record. In the mixed doubles, Bopanna plays on the left court and Mirza on the right court. So, they complement each other's playing style.

Paes plays on the right court just like Mirza, so that wouldn't have helped," Khanna explained the logic behind picking Paes.

Prarthana Thombare (ranked 209) has been named Sania's partner in women's doubles.

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