Bangalore: After bagging a record equalling
11th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, Leander Paes is
eyeing at least five or six more Major trophies.
Paes equalled Mahesh Bhupathi's Indian record for most
Slam trophies last week after wining mixed doubles trophy at
the Australian Open with partner Cara Black.
"I would love to win five or six more grand slams. I
would love to take part in my sixth Olympics," Paes said at a
media interaction here.
Paes said he has always enjoyed his stay in Australia and
termed as "unfortunate" the recent attacks on the Indians in
Down Under.
"It is very unfortunate that way that things have been
going on in India and Australia. I have had long relations
with Australians. Tony Roche coached me for three and half
years in Sydney, where I lived with his family.”
"Bob Carmichael, one of the greatest coaches in my life,
taught me how to play the game of doubles. I lived with him in
Melbourne. I can speak for myself that I have had some amazing
interactions with them," he said.
Australia had also forfeited its Davis Cup tie against
India last year but Paes hoped soon things will become better.
"Whether it is tennis or cricket, people of Australia and
India have shared great professional relationship. I believe
that sports should be one of those vehicles to bridge good
ties between countries," Paes said.
"I hope it is not far that India and Australia continue
to have ties and get over the few incidents that have a
happened in the near past," Paes added.
Paes says cinema has always been his interest and he is
game to face the arc light if the right script comes to him.
"Cinema is something that has always intrigued me. If
down the track the right script, right director, movie and
project comes along, I would love to explore the actor in me.
But I haven't signed any role or movie yet. I believe that
there is a time and place for everything," he said.
Talking about India's upcoming Davis Cup World Group tie
against Russia he said it would not be a smooth sailing but
fancied chances of pulling off an upset.
India qualified for World Group after 11 years, following
a convincing 4-1 win over South Africa in the play-off tie.
"Playing Russia in the Davis Cup is a very, very tough
tie for us, let alone in their own back yard. (Nikolay)
Davydenko was world number one. He won the World Masters,
beating Federer in the final.
"They have got an amazing depth but I always felt Indian
Davis Cup team has been able to create some wonderful upsets
and my Davis Cup record goes to show that. Anything can happen
in the Davis Cup. To come away with a win will be magical."
Paes also said that he and Bhupathi will have to perform
consistently to keep their place as the younger players were
doing extremely well.
"If both of us are injury free, definitely we are the
best team out there. Both of us have to be aware that there
are few guys out there who are wonderful doubles players.”
"The way that Somdev Devvarman and Sanam Singh did at the
Chennai Open. Rohan has done well. So we have some guys right
on our heels. We need to keep performing well to keep our
place in the team," Paes reckoned.
Asked how he fancy his chances of winning a medal in the
Commonwealth and Asian Games, he said, "I have always done
well when it comes to playing for the country. These two
events are no different to me. Tennis being included for the
first time in the Commonwealth Games is a big stage for me to
come out and perform. I look forward to it."
Paes insisted he had to skip the Chennai Open last month
to acclimatise with Australian conditions but hinted that
there was more to it than meets the eye.
"I missed the Chennai Open this year unfortunately, to go
into Australia early. I got to Brisbane, played in Auckland.
Heading out early to Australia was to give myself enough time
to acclimatize and prepare there.”
"I love playing in front of my own crowd, I love playing
in India. It was unfortunate that I was not welcomed as well I
normally am. To me it seems to have paid off. Coming away with
a victory in the first Grand Slam of the year is great."
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, February 03, 2010, 19:26