Tried Hard to Get Leander Paes in International Premier Tennis League Last Year: Mahesh Bhupathi
Leander Paes, who played in the Vijay Amritraj-owned Champions Tennis League last year, was signed by International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) team Japan Warriors for the tournament's second edition.
They might have shared a frosty relationship that led to a break-up of their doubles partnership in 2011 but Mahesh Bhupathi on Friday said that he pulled out all the stops to persuade fellow Indian tennis great Leander Paes to be a part of the inaugural International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) last year before taking him on board for the second edition. (Looking forward to Indian Premier Tennis League 2: Mahesh Bhupathi)
The 'Indian Express', as they were once called, won three men's doubles Grand Slam titles together while taking India to great heights in the Davis Cup.
"I really tried hard to get him last year but he had already signed for another tournament (Champions Tennis League). He is an entertainer and I felt the format of IPTL suits Leander," Bhupathi said on the sidelines of a promotional event for the Indian Aces, one of the IPTL teams. (International Premier Tennis League Tickets to Range From Rs 4000 to Rs 48,000)
"We went out early this year to get Leander so that we do not lose out on him this time," Bhupathi, the Founder and Managing Director of IPTL, said.
Paes, who played in the Vijay Amritraj-owned Champions Tennis League last year, has signed with IPTL side Japan Warriors this year.
Bhupathi said that last season's experience had made him and the IPTL management wiser and he hoped the tournament would do better this year.
"The experience of last year will make the IPTL better this year. Honestly, we did not do any planning about audience, how many spectators watched and so on. With the bits and pieces of experience from last year, I hope we can do better this year and the IPTL will be bigger in season two," he said.
Meanwhile, women's double star Sania Mirza said she was looking ahead to a good showing in the IPTL having had a "dream season" which saw her bag 10 titles.
"It has been a dream season, not losing since August and having won 10 titles. So looking forward and hope to carry the form in the IPTL. I think IPTL will be bigger this year than last season," she said.
Asked about her future plans and preparation for the 2016 Rio Olympics, she said, "Lots of things to worry about the Olympics. There is still a few weeks left in the season and when the year ends, I will start thinking about the next season."