Hyderabad, Oct 28: One of the world's top doubles players, Mahesh Bhupathi today said he would wait for his estranged partner Leander Paes to recover fully before going ahead with plans to play with him before the Athens Olympics. "The plan is to play a few matches. But we have to wait till Leander fully recovers and comes back," Bhupathi said asked whether he would partner Paes in the run-up to the games.
Paes is out of action since august after he was diagnosed with a parasitic infection in his brain.
On Paes' remarks that his call when he was on the hospital bed in USA had helped bridge differences between them, Bhupathi said "I wanted to be there when he was sick. I am glad that he had appreciated it."
Bhupathi said he would play doubles in next year's Chennai Open and Australian Open but declined to confirm his partner.
"I am playing with Max (Mirnyi) this year. I am not sure about Max coming to Chennai. I have not yet finalised on whom to partner for the next season," he said.
Bhupathi, who is competing in the individual events at the Afro-Asian Games, also said he was yet to decide about his mixed doubles partner for next year.
The winner of four Grand Slam doubles titles told reporters that he was looking forward to the Houston world championship next month where he would partner Mirnyi. "We are going to be the second seeded. Our chances are as good as anybody else," he said.
Bureau Report