Mahesh Bhupathi: Leander Paes-Rohan Bopanna Didn't Give Themselves A Chance
Leander Paes' former doubles partner Mahesh Bhupathi tells NDTV that Paes and Bopanna's preparation for the 2016 Rio Olympics was not the best
Highlights
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Paes and Bopanna crashed out of the men's doubles event in the 1st round
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The Indian duo lost in straight sets to Poland's Kubot and Matkowski
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Later, Leander Paes lashed out, saying he is a soft target
Ahead of the Rio Olympics, Leander Paes who was getting ready to play a record 7th Olympics was confident about a good showing. Paes in fact told NDTV, he was very well prepared for the Games. However, the 18 Time Grand Slam champions' dream of winning a second Olympic medal was over in the first round itself. A straight sets loss for Leander and Rohan Bopanna to a Polish pair meant Leander's 7th Olympic outing was over in an hour and 24 minutes.
So just how big a factor is the fact that Leander and Bopanna don't play together on the ATP tour? Leander's former doubles partner Mahesh Bhupathi has spoken about that, questioning their preparation for the Rio Games. Bhupathi told NDTV, "A big factor is the preparation or the lack of preparation. When Leander and me were not playing together on tour in 2004 and 2008, both Olympic years, we found a way to come together and play 3-4 tournaments, because we knew the enormity of the Olympic Games and how important it was to be prepared. That wasn't done this year. I really think they didn't give themselves a chance and of course it told in the result.
Remember, Bopanna's first choice for the Rio Games was Saketh Myneni, but the All India Tennis Association felt the Men's doubles team should be Leander and Bopanna. Leander and Bopanna did play together in a Davis Cup tie vs South Korea, but Bhupathi doesn't think that was nearly enough in the run up to the Olympics.
Bhupathi told NDTV, "I think it would have definitely helped if they had played a couple of tournaments. Playing one match against a dilapidated Korean challenge is not the best way to prepare for the Olympic Games, to win a medal. They should have played some tournaments at the highest level. It's the Olympics after all. Part of the blame has to shift to the Association. They didn't put their foot down and it is what it is."
With Sania Mirza and Prarthana Thombare also having crashed out in the first round, hopes of a tennis medal for India now rest on Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna in the Mixed Doubles.
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