The ‘Indian Express’ tennis duo was one of the prime reasons for crowds thronging the stadium on weekends in the first three years of the Chennai Open (known as Gold Flake Open from 1997 to 2001). By winning their first professional doubles title in Chennai in 1997, Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi took the initial steps in their glorious journey.
The Lee-Hesh combination completed a hat-trick of titles in 1999, a year which saw them reaching dizzy heights. Title No 4 in Chennai came in 2002 after a gap of three years for the Indian duo. It was the last time the two partnered together in India’s premier tournament.
Owing to differences, they have been teaming up with different players for a long time, except for the Davis Cup, Olympics, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.
However, Paes and Bhupathi have decided to team up again for the 2011 Australian Open with the aim of completing a ‘Career Slam’. The duo had reached the final of the Australian Open in 1999. They will also be competing in the Chennai Open, which is one of the first tournaments of the new season. Paes and Bhupathi reuniting should generate excitement among tennis lovers.
With Paes (turning 37) and Bhupathi (turning 36) not getting any younger, it’s hard to predict what’s in store for them in the coming season.
However, if one takes into account their performances in 2010, the two proven doubles performers should have a decent 2011, with the possibility of winning a Slam if they strike a purple patch.
Paes had another consistent year with Czech Republic’s Lukas Dlouhy, ending the year as the No 5 ranked player, winning two tiles in Miami and Shanghai (with Jurgen Melzer), besides reaching the final of the French Open and ending up as second best in four finals.
It was also the year when Paes broke the record of Bhupathi to become the most successful Indian player in Grand Slams with 12 titles. The second half of 2010 was less successful for Paes and Dlouhy, who exited in the first round of the US Open, besides losing all their matches in the year-ender in London.
Coming to Bhupathi, his performance got better in the second half of 2010. Partnering Belarussian Max Mirnyi, Bhupathi ended the year as No 6 on the ATP Tour, winning one title, besides reaching five finals. The Indo-Belarussian performance in Grand Slams was below-par.
However, Bhupathi and Mirnyi got their act together towards the end of the season, reaching three straight finals in Valencia, Paris and London, the high point being a final appearance at the World Tour Finals, where they came off second best to Daniel Nestor (Canada) and Nenad Zimonjic (Serbia).
Before the split, Paes and Bhupathi had won three Grand Slam titles (French Open 1999, 2001 and Wimbledon 1999).
The duo had a standout 1999, reaching the final of all four Grand Slams, besides becoming the world’s No 1 ranked doubles players. Lee-Hesh’s immediate target will be to start 2011 on a positive note in Chennai as a build-up to the Australian Open.
The main threat for them in the first Grand Slam of 2010 will be the world No1 Bryan brothers — Bob and Mike — pair, and world-class doubles players like Nestor and Zimonjic, who will be competing with different partners in the new season.
The athleticism and volleying skills of Paes in combination with Bhupathi’s returns and solid groundstrokes has made them a household name on the doubles circuit. The first half of 2011 will show whether they are able to maintain their high standards or are declining because of Father Time.
But for now, spectators at the Chennai Open will be hoping the old pros recreate their magic on the hard courts of the SDAT Tennis Stadium in Nungambakkam in the first week of January.
-- sports@expressbuzz.com