Mahesh Bhupathi dealt a blow to India's hopes of winning a tennis medal at the Beijing Olympics Wednesday, when he appeared to rule out a reunion with former doubles partner Leander Paes. Paes and Bhupathi won three Grand Slam doubles titles in 1999 before parting ways a year later, and the pair have a stormy relationship.
Earlier this year, Bhupathi joined a revolt against Paes by two players who said they had lost faith in the Davis Cup captain. "I'd like to play the Olympics for two reasons, winning for India and enjoying the experience. I don't think either will happen playing with Leander without preparation," the Times of India quoted Bhupathi as saying. "We are not magicians. A medal will not happen just because we step on court."
Bhupathi also told the All India Tennis Association (AITA) that he would prefer to partner Davis Cup team-mate Rohan Bopanna at the Olympics. "There has been absolutely no communication between Leander and myself since the (2006) Doha Asian Games, even though I have reached out at various times through different avenues," he wrote in a letter to AITA, the Times of India said.
"The field is stronger than four years ago and just going to the Olympics for the sake of it, and not making the most of it by putting all that is required to win does not interest me at this stage of my career."