Mahesh Bhupathi praises his country’s performance at the Asian Games in 2010
The 36-year-old Mahesh Bhupathi of India feels it has been a great season for Indian tennis highlighted by Somdev Devvarman's outstanding performance at the Commonwealth Games and the sixteenth edition of the Asian Games.
Mahesh, who made his debut on the ATP tour back in 1995, owns a career mark of 10-28 on the tour. He is widely known as one of the best doubles player in the world who is currently ranked number 13 in the South African Airways
ATP doubles list. He has so far won a total of eleven Grand Slam titles with his first major victory coming along with his partner Rika Hiraki at the Australian Open back in 1997. With the right hander’s victory at the Australian Open Mixed Doubles back in
2006, he also joined the elite group of eight tennis contenders who have achieved a Career Mixed Doubles major.
The Bangalore resident who achieved his career high doubles ranking of world number one back in 1999, while talking about Indian players performance at the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games said that he was amused that everyone
was stunned seeing them playing so well at the multi discipline events. In an interview, the Indian tennis star said that his country has been dominating the Asian tennis circuit for the past twenty five years. India captured two gold medals in the men’s singles
and doubles event, a silver in the mixed doubles and a bronze in the women' singles and men's team event in 2010.
Somdev also picked up the singles crown at the Commonwealth Games, held in New Delhi, where tennis made its debut.
"It has been a big year for Indian tennis. Somdev has had a great run dominating the Commonwealth Games and then the Asian Games. He has been in and out of top hundred and it is time that he cements his place in the top hundred.
Next year is going to be a defining year for him,” Mahesh while talking to the media said.
He further added, "I do not know why people are so surprised by our performance at Guangzhou. We have been dominating Asian tennis for the past twenty five years now and it just goes to show the depth of Indian tennis. We always
expected them to come good. Somdev and Sanam had reached the semi-finals of the Chennai Open last year, so it is not surprising that they won gold. In fact, they were unlucky to miss the gold in the Men’s team event and also mixed doubles."
Mahesh along with Leander Paes and Rohan Bopanna missed the Asian Games this year in order to take part in the season finale Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London. Mahesh and his partner Max Miryni finished runner up at the
prestigious eight team event.
It was their last tournament together as both of them will be playing with different partners in 2011. Mahesh has decided to team up with his one-time partner Leander Paes for the next year’s Australian Open, the only major title
they have captured together. Both of them will shortly regroup in January to complete a career Grand Slam.
Bhupathi, while speaking at length about the Indian sporting talent also emphasized over proper training and practice as a key to top performance at the highest level of the game. He added that there is no doubt that Indian players can perform well at the Olympic
Games to be held in London in 2012, provided they play up to their mark.
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