Tennis duo Leander Paes-Mahesh Bhupathi are set to play the Aussie Grand Slam today. DNA finds out what makes them tick on and off court
Tennis duo Leander Paes-Mahesh Bhupathi are set to play the Aussie Grand Slam today. DNA finds out what makes them tick on and off court
Lee: Aiyana motivates me
Ask tennis sensation Leander Paes about his biggest motivation, and he’s quick to reply — daughter Aiyana.
“She’s too small, but I have already carried her to the (tennis) courts. It’s a different feeling to see your daughter clap for you. Never mind, if she’s clapping simply out of joy to see her papa, and not because I have won a break-point,” gushes Leander.
The proud papa says though Aiyana is turning out to be athletic, she’s free to choose the career that she thinks suits her best. “She can be a music teacher or a house-wife, I just want my daughter to follow her heart the way I did. I wanted to be one of the best tennis players in the country and now I want to be a good actor also,” Leander adds.
He says that the best thing that works for all of us is the “freedomof dreaming large”.
Meanwhile, no loo breaks for Mahesh Bhupathi’s Lara Dutta
Mahesh Bhupathi’s fiancee, actress Lara Dutta will not move an inch when he’s in midst of a game — not even for a washroom break!
The actress recently revealed on a chat show that Mahesh was not ‘entirely happy’ to see her leaving the stands when he was in midst of a tie-breaker with his opponent in the US.
“It was the first time that I had gone to see Mahesh play internationally, and I was sitting atop the sitting arena thinking that nobody would be able to spot me,” said Lara, who adds that she left the stands to use the washroom at a time when Mahesh had won a point and was about to serve for the tie-breaker. “He looked up for me and he couldn’t find me in the stands. But my bladder was bursting and I needed to use the rest-room,” Lara says. She returned to her seat soon, but by that time the match has already swung against Mahesh who was still trying to hold on to his ground.
“He later told me that I had missed an important part of the match,” recalls Lara, who vowed not repeat that again. “Forget about going to the washroom, I never dare to change my position when Mahesh is playing out there,” says Lara, who’s happy to see her fiance pair up with Lee for the Games. “They are like poetry in motion. Praying for a win, especially because it is the only title they haven't won together," she says.
Leander complements me, says Mahesh
It was an evidently excited Mahesh Bhupathi who first announced on Twitter that he was pairing up with Leander Paes for the Grand Slam tournament. The duo, widely addressed as ‘The Indian Express’ will be taking centre-stage today as they face the Bryan brothers in the finals of the Aussie Open.
Mahesh has been receiving congratulatory messages from all over the world. He says, “All I can say is ‘wow’ and thanks! It’s going to be a cracker of a match at the finals.” He also thanked all his friends and fans for their wishes, “All your support makes a big difference. We felt the only trophy missing from our collection was the Australian Open. Nobody complements me better than Leander, so we became a champion team. We both felt we had a shot at winning it if we play together. We have tried and come close to winning it in the past. A lot of people thought we were crazy then, but now we are two sets away from winning!”
Besides Lee by his side on the court, his fiancee Lara Dutta will motivate him from off court by being present for all the matches.
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