Daily News & Analysis

Dubai, March 4: Leander Paes is a satisfied man. Fifteen years since he began his journey into professional tennis, he honestly believes he has explored the depths of his talent and, at 32, his goals are about to be redefined.

"I'm going to be a father in about four weeks," he announces with a glint in his eye. "That is probably my biggest achievement in life, it's bigger than the Olympic medal, the Wimbledon title....everything. I just can't wait to be a dad."

"I have gone through a lot in the last few years, the illness, the recovery, the comeback and now, fatherhood," says Leander. "All this has given me a fresh outlook on life. I have always been very passionate about my life and my tennis. But now, I'm very thankful just to be here. I'm very blessed to be alive and enjoying this moment. Now I want to nurture my child to the best of my ability. Oh, and I still want to win a few more Grand Slams. I'm greedy that way!"

Having had a good season with Serb Nenad Zemonjic last year, where the duo won two titles and finished 6th in the Champions Race, Leander has now struck up a partnership with Martin Damm of the Czech Republic. "It was good to be playing with Nenad but, by the end of the year, I felt that we had achieved all that we could together.

I had taught him all that I could and learnt all that was possible to be learnt from him. It was time to move on," he says.

"Martin is a great guy. He's very solid, has a good serve, good returns. He's also a very stable person, travelling with his wife and two kids. In fact, he's giving some very important tips on being a dad," says the Indian superstar. "He's also very hard-working and that work ethic is very important to me at this stage of my career."

The new pairing has started the season well, finishing runners-up at the Australian Open, though getting to grips with the ATP's new rules was a bit of a challenge at first. In fact, Leander had gone on record during the season-opening Chennai Open, attacking the new rules.

Eight weeks into the new season though, the six-time Grand Slam winner is beginning to see the virtues of the new rules, which have seen the introduction of a single deciding point every time a game goes to deuce and the inception of a champion's tie break to decide the match once it is tied at one set all.

"At the time I made those comments, I did not understand the motives behind the changes," he explains. "I just reacted in the way a normal tennis fan would - that the very foundation of the game was being changed for no particular reason. But now, I have had some time to get used to them and I have understood why the rules have been changed. I now see things in a totally different light."

"You only have to look at how the profile of doubles has changed. There are now 40 per cent more doubles matches on centre court as compared to last year. It has turned into a sort of doubles revolution which has conjured up greater enthusiasm, more sponsorship and higher tension," says Leander.

"Things like John McEnroe coming back to play doubles can only be good for the game."

Doubles players are now also being recognized as stars in their own right, much to Leander's delight. "I was amazed at the Australian Open when we received a standing ovation after our final on a day when the ladies' final had been a disappointment for the crowd due to Justine's (Henin-Hardenne) withdrawal," he adds.

The brainchild of new ATP Chairman Etienne de Villiers, who has come in from Walt Disney with the aim to make doubles faster and more entertaining - an irresistible package for all generations of fans.

"I can see Etienne's vision unfolding and I like what I see," says Leander.
Inevitably, talk turns to Davis Cup and Indian tennis.

"I'm getting old, aren't I? I just can't carry the team any longer. But sadly, there is no world class player coming though the ranks," he admits ruefully. "I just can't hand over the mantle to anybody yet. I don't see anybody special on the horizon, despite the fact that the infrastructure has become much better, the sponsorship is available, the media coverage is great and tennis has everything going for it in India."

And finally, are there any plans in the pipeline for Leander and Mahesh's 'Indian Express' to resume normal service? ``No,'' is Leander's short but succinct reply.

Know Him, Real Lee

Nickname(s): Rog, Lee
Born: June 17, 1973, Goa
Family: Father Vece - Olympic hockey player and a member of the Indian hockey team at the 1972 Munich Olympics; Mother - Jennifer, international basketball player and former India basketball player
Influenced by: Mother Teresa, Pele
Health: At age three, suffered from epileptic fits; at 10, he had Oscar Sclatter's disease, an joint injury that particularly affects children, and had to wear a braces; at age 30, had a parasitic infection called neurocysticercosis
Favourite Films: The Rock, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge
Ex-Girlfriends: Anisa, Mahima Chaudhary
Famous Ancestor: Bengali poet Michael Madhusudhan Dutt
Highest Award: Padma Shri in 2001
Other Achievements: Won the bronze at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996, carried the Indian flag at the Sydney Games in 2000, Lycra MTV Style award for 'Most Stylish Person in Sports' in 2003
Admires: Rod Laver, Jimmy Connors, Pat Rafter, Monica Seles