News APP

NewsApp (Free)

Read news as it happens
Download NewsApp

Available on  gplay

This article was first published 8 years ago
Rediff.com  » Sports » Leander records 100 partnerships as Wimbledon beckons

Leander records 100 partnerships as Wimbledon beckons

Last updated on: June 25, 2015 17:58 IST
Get Rediff News in your Inbox:

‘It's been a very blessed journey to go through 25 years and 100 partners’

‘It's quite intriguing in an individual sport like tennis to have actually had that many doubles partners’

Leander Paes of India

India's Leander Paes celebrates. Photograph: Simon Watts/Getty Images

Leander Paes says chemistry is the most important factor when choosing a doubles partner and he should know, having now experimented with 100 different players.

Teaming up with Spain's Marcel Granollers at the Nottingham grasscourt tournament this week meant veteran Paes, a doubles specialist, reached the century milestone in men's doubles.

Some might raise their eyebrows and suggest Paes just struggles to commit, but constant hopping about between different partners is actually not that unusual.

He is the 47th player to notch up 100 different partners but few can boast his success rate.

Leander Paes and Martina Hingis celebrate

Leander Paes and Martina Hingis celebrate winning the 2015 Australian Open mixed doubles title. Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Eight Grand Slam men's doubles titles and seven mixed doubles crowns have earned him a tidy fortune and the 42-year-old is still going strong, reaching the Nottingham quarter-finals as he warms up for Wimbledon.

"It means I've had a very long career," Paes, who reached 700 match wins recently at the French Open, told ATPWorldTour.com on Wednesday.

"It's quite intriguing in an individual sport like tennis to have actually had that many doubles partners.

"I always try to learn new tricks and keep reinventing myself. It's been a very blessed journey to go through 25 years and 100 partners."

Leander Paes and Martina Navratilova

Leander Paes and Martina Navratilova pose with their trophies after winning the Wimbledon mixed doubles title in 2003. Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Paes has completed the career Grand Slam in doubles and won the first two of his eight men's doubles majors (the French Open and Wimbledon in 1999) with compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi.

He also played with Bhupathi to win the 2001 French Open but has since found Czech mates in the form of Martin Damm, Lukas Dlouhy and Radek Stepanek to win his other men's doubles majors.

"I put a lot of homework into choosing a partner," Paes, who had Martina Hingis by his side to win this year's Australian Open mixed title, said. "I like to choose someone whose skill set is my weaknesses and my skill set is their weaknesses.

"I've been very good at understanding the strengths and weaknesses of a human being and what I focus on is adapting myself."

Leander Paes poses with the 2015 Australian Open mixed doubles trophy

Leander Paes poses with the 2015 Australian Open mixed doubles trophy. Photograph: Hitesh Harisinghani/Rediff.com

If Paes is to match the 144 partners of record holder amongst active players Frank Moser, however, there will be no settling down any time soon, although when it comes to making relationships work he seems to have the key.

"The best partnerships are the ones where there is a lot of give and take, where there is good communication and chemistry other than the tennis skill set," he said.

Granollers will be ditched after Nottingham when Paes reunites with Daniel Nestor.

Read more inspiring Leander Paes stories:

I have been blessed to win on the big stage very often: Paes

It's Grand Slam No 15 for legendary Leander Paes

'The desire to win is what keeps Paes going' 

The realistic goal for me is the 2016 Olympics: Leander Paes

Get Rediff News in your Inbox:
Source: REUTERS
© Copyright 2024 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE 2024

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE 2024