Everything about me is pure and natural, reveals Leander Paes

If you look back at your career, what would you tell yourself? Could it have been a bit different? Is there anything unfulfilled?
I’m a very blessed man. I remember my childhood, the phase when I was growing up in Kolkata. I’d never have imagined that I’d get this far. Now, the Indian market has opened up. Multi-talented people are finding acceptance. It was different in 1986 when I embarked upon this journey as a 12-year-old. Back then, to be able to achieve excellence in tennis alone was a dream. To reach Wimbledon was a dream. And then to win it six times and play six Olympics...to be able to do movies...finish my first release...and now wait for my graphic novel that’s being edited...to carve out a career the way I’ve is indeed a blessing.

And so many people have been involved in this journey. It’s them who I celebrate. My coach, my father, Sanjay Singh, Devvarman (Somdev), they have stood by me for 20 years, all through the thick and thin. Someone like you has been following my career since 1987. It’s for you guys that I enjoy playing.

What are the instant images that flash when you reflect upon your times: the Olympic bronze, winning all those Slams, or the win over Pete Sampras?
Atlanta was my greatest achievement because I’d worked for it the longest. I grew up seeing my dad’s (Dr Vece Paes) achievement. He was an Olympic medallist in 1972, and I always wanted my own medal. My achievements in the Olympics as well as in the Davis Cup gave me the greatest joys of my life. Yes I’ve beaten Sampras, yes I’ve contested 30 Grand Slam finals, but none of them compares to the thrill of playing for the country.

When you were down with cerebral malaria and contracted a parasitic infection on the brain, did you fear that your career would come to a premature end? Did those experiences change your outlook towards life?
I realised how fragile life could be. On July 4, 2003, I won Wimbledon (mixed doubles). It was Martina’s (Navratilova’s) 21st win there. No one knows what I was going through for four days before the match. The day after winning Wimbledon, I was at a hospital trying to figure out whether it was a cancerous tumour or, as it emerged later, a neurocystic parasite. The in-between period of not knowing where I was headed was a long time. It was a long six weeks. It makes you look at life differently. Now, just short of my 40th birthday, I realise there’s so much to achieve — as a human being, father, businessman, athlete and friend.

So the essence of life becomes learning.

I’ve always been a student of life or anything I do, but at that point it was instilled in me even more. It reminded me that I shouldn’t take things for granted. It taught me to live in the present and make most of every minute.

I come across people from all walks of life. They face the same challenges. Traffic stress, home pressure, work stress, cost of living stress, education stress, parenting stress...there’s stress everywhere. But experiences like I one I had give you a different perspective. Then you start living life in the best way you can.

One interesting aspect of your career is the number of doubles partners you have had (over 100). Besides faith, what qualities are non-negotiable in doubles?
Passion and communication. If you are passionate, you’ll achieve what you must. And you should communicate well enough, be a good student, absorb and learn.

If you were granted another birth as a tennis player, who would you prefer as your first doubles partner other than Martina?
Rod Laver. Why? Left-right combination. The only player to win all four Grand Slams in the same year twice, once as an amateur and later as a pro. And he is such a humble man, a true student of life. I’ve had the good fortune of spending a lot of time with him. With Laver as doubles partner, imagine the amount of learning and sharing that would happen.

Speed and court coverage are your forte. If you could, what skills would you borrow from your contemporaries?
It would be the technical skills of Federer (Roger). He’s so versatile. Or even Djokovic (Novak). The two-handed backhand he plays is phenomenal. I’m not a sound technical player. I’m more of a raw athlete. Look at Federer’s longevity. It’s because his game is so relaxed, smooth, almost like a ballerina. Jimmy Connors has been my idol. What passion he had! That’s what I strive for. Pete Sampras had the best serve. His second serve was the most solid ever. But you really want me to mix and match? I’d rather be born as Leander.

Woodford and Woodbridge are playing at a senior level. You are still active on the main circuit. At 40, isn’t it a challenge to push the body?
At some point I’ve to stop, but I’m as fit as I’ve ever been. My challenge is not to push the body but the mind. The body is willing to go. Especially this year, the big test has been to drive the mind forward. 

Recently, Rafael Nadal spoke about reducing his practice hours in order to be mentally fresh and not be too harsh on his body. Do you follow a realistic training regime these days?
I train intensely but the hours are not the same. That is what Rafa meant. It’s the quality that’s more important. If that is of a high order, you don’t have to worry about the quantity.

Tell us more about Ujaya, the breathing technique you have perfected. Where did you learn it?
At the age of 12, I headed towards a tennis academy in Chennai. My then coach Dave O’Meara was into Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living. And I’ve been practising it in a very scientific way. Oxygen is to the human body what jet fuel is for a jet engine and formula one fuel is for an F1 car. You stop breathing, you die. In big cites like Paris, London, Mumbai, Delhi, the quality of air is a concern. It is better in the countryside. So the more oxygen I put into my brain, the greater my power of concentration which makes me sharper on court and gives me that single-minded focus.

Tennis is not a sport where you have a time limit of 20 overs or 90 minutes of a football game. It can range from two to six hours. You also have to play with a lot of ease. That’s the mental part. Also, oxygen in the brain allows you to make decisions quickly. The ball is travelling at 240 clicks an hour. Your decision making has to be sharp. You don’t have time. You have to be constantly in the moment.

People call you a gregarious sportsman. But we don’t know who the true Leander is. It’s as if there’s a mystery about you that can never be unravelled. The connect with fans is also missing.
Isn’t it good in a way? You’ll never get bored of me (laughs). I’m a Gemini, and I’ve multiple personalities. When I’m on court, I’m immersed in playing. Off the court, it’s all fun.

Everything about Leander is very pure and natural. You be tough on me, I’ll be tough on you. You be good with me, I’ll reciprocate in the same way. If you are not honest with me, I’ll distance myself.

Very recently, the nation celebrated the birthdays of two sporting icons: Sachin Tendulkar and Viswanathan Anand. Somehow, Leander and Tendulkar/Anand are not mentioned in the same sentence. Has it got to do with the fact that you have led a far more complex and dramatic life? The differences with the establishment or the falling out with Mahesh...
Not everything in life is about public perception. At the end of the day I came into this world alone; I’m going to go alone. The people I meet along the way and the difference I make to them, they very well know. There are 10,000 children in my orphanage. You didn’t know this bit, did you? And you have followed me for 30 years? That’s because I don’t talk about it. I don’t need publicity.

Also, tennis is not played as much in India as elsewhere. Maybe, two Davis Cups if you are lucky and one Chennai Open. So there’s a bit of disconnect with the fans. Whereas every hour you have cricket on three different channels. I’m actually lucky to have that amazing connect with my fans for over 30 years. The people who are close to me, I’ve to be with them. I find that most people across the world are trying to find friends. They want to know how many followers they have on Twitter or on Facebook. And here I’m not getting enough quality time to spend with the people I enjoy being with. 

Why do you maintain a studied silence when the country wants to hear from you? You chose not to react when Mahesh (Bhupathi) made certain remarks before the London Olympics. Fans were waiting to hear from you.
Why would I be disrespecting their knowledge? Everyone knew what Mahesh was doing before the Olympics. My statement was: are you sending two teams to participate, or one to win a medal. That explains it all. The educated and knowledgeable already knew what was happening.

As a senior pro and voice of the Indian tennis fraternity, why didn’t you speak out during the players’ tiff with AITA?
It would have shown the sport in bad light. Everyone — the parties involved and the viewers — knew what was happening. And within the sphere of sport, everyone has his own politics. So why get involved?

Why don’t we find another Leander in the horizon? Why the drought of special talent?
Give them time. See what’s happening in cricket. The quality of our domestic players has improved so much. Look at the standard of Ranji Trophy. The IPL has also created a wealth of talent. Our emerging players are playing with the likes of Chris Gayle, the Pontings, the Tendulkars and the Dravids of the world. They are getting to understand what it takes to be a champion. Champions aren’t born, they are made. You have to work at it.

The Khanna family has been in charge for over four decades now. Is it right for administrators to hold on to their positions for so long?
I’m not in a position to make a comment on this.

In retrospect, is there anything you would have done differently?
Play singles longer. I gave up my singles at that point to win more Grand Slams in doubles. If I knew then that I would continue to play till I’m 40, I’d have prolonged my singles career by five years.

What would you like to do after you are sated as a player? What if you were offered Davis Cup captaincy or an assignment as personal coach?
Anything I take up has to move me. You just don’t consider something for the heck of it. You can’t occupy seats. I’ve to make a difference. If I can do that, I’m open to anything.