New Delhi, May 19: Despite a groin and calf injury he suffered during an ATP tennis event in Hamburg a week ago, Mahesh Bhupathi is quite hopeful of playing at the French Open grand slam beginning on May 24. "Both the calf and groin has started to respond (to treatment) and he (Bhupathi) is quite hopeful of playing at the French Open," the former world number one doubles player's spokesman told reporters on Saturday. A final decision on his contesting the clay court grand slam in Paris would be taken in the middle of this week, the spokesman said.
"Bhupathi is returning to Bangalore later tonight and if he is playing at Roland Garros, he would leave from India on Saturday or Sunday," he added. The doubles specialist suffered the injury in his ATP Tennis Masters match with Belarussian Max Mirnyi against compatriot Leander Paes and David Rikl of the Czech Republic.

Bhupathi was forced to call the trainer in the third set and went on to lose the match.

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The multiple grand slam champion would not be losing any ATP points since there are no tour events scheduled this week. But the lay-off will definitely upset the training schedule with his partner.

Bureau Report