Leander Paes: I dedicate this US Open win to Richard Leach, father of my tennis guru, Rick

Leander Paes became the oldest man to win a Grand Slam title on Sunday when he and Radek Stepanek took the US Open doubles title in New York on Sunday. Paes and Stepanek won the 2012 Australian Open title and had ended Bob and Mike Bryan's hopes of completing a calendar year Grand Slam with victory in the semi-finals on Thursday. The 40-year-old Paes had won the US Open title with Martin Damm in 2006 and Lukas Dlouhy in 2009 and now has eight men's doubles trophies at the Majors as well as six mixed doubles crowns. Paes spoke to NDTV after his milestone win. Excerpts from an exclusive chat.

 

Namrata Brar: Leander, what a triumph. Congratulations on your 14th Grand Slam title, it also makes you the oldest man to win a Grand Slam crown and you made it look so easy. But it must have been hard.

 

Leander Paes: I guess when you have a great partner, it's a lot of fun. Radek (Stepanek) is a wonderful team-mate, he is one of the best partners I have ever had and especially this year (2013) has been a trying year for both of us and really to persevere together as a team and stand by each other through thick and thin and then to culminate at the US Open with a win is really wonderful. (Pictures)

 

NDTV: There is much discussion about you being here at Flushing Meadows 20 year back. Did you ever imagine you will be playing here at 40 and winning?

 

Leander Paes: No, I never imagined playing at 40 and being the oldest Grand Slam champion. My coach and tennis guru Rich Leach and I am very blessed to have a great team. Rick won the US Open men's doubles in 1993. That was exactly 20 years ago and that was the first year I got to a Grand Slam semi-final. I was playing with Sebastian Lareau and Rick beat the Czech boys who beat us in the semi finals. Today, I dedicated the trophy to Rick's dad, Richard Leech, who is one of the greatest coaches of all time. He used to coach at the University of South California for years and he has been battling a few health issues for the last two weeks. He is  real champion. I got a call from Richard saying that he is going to put Rick's (US Open) trophy from 20 years ago and my trophy together in the showcase. For me, these are the special people that I play for.

 

NDTV: I am sure these are special moments. But you have played with a very special player Martina Navratilova when she was 46 and you both won the mixed doubles title. What motivates you? You used to write inspirational notes for Martina  then. What are the inspirational notes that Leander writes to himself?

 

Leander Paes: I ran into Martina in the tunnel after we won the final on the way back to the locker room and we share a few special memories together and for me, she is one of my best friends on the tennis circuit and  a great teacher, a great team-mate and a real confidante for me. She actually holds the record for being the oldest female athlete to win a Grand Slam in the Open era. Having won the US Open now, it is quite unique that as two best friends and team-mates, we both hold the record. Age is just a number and I have learnt from Martina how a good healthy, quality lifestyle in any field can help you achieve excellence.

 

NDTV: In fact, Mahesh Bhupathi tweeted today that he (Paes) may be 40 but he moves like a 20!

 

Leander Paes: I haven't seen that but that is nice from Hesh.

 

NDTV: How old does Leander Paes feel?

 

Leander Paes: I think age is just a number. About 10 years ago, when I was 30, I went through a lot of adversity health wise and those years, I felt a little older than I do now. When you have  a new lease on life, a second breath when you come back in, you realize how fragile life is. You live it with your heart. You live it with as much passion as you got in your soul. One of the things I love to teach to my daughter (seven-year-old Aiyana) is the way my parents and my coaches have taught me to become  a champion  human being as well.

 

NDTV: Rio 2016, Is Leander going to be there?

 

Leander Paes: I have done six Olympics, why not a seventh?

 

NDTV: So you are going to be there. I believe there is a competition within your house itself about the Olympic gold. That is what you want to get.

 

Leander Paes: Yes, I come from a family where my dad (Vece) has played in the (Munich) Olympics and won a (hockey) medal. It is great to be able to honour my father and play for him everyday. He is one of the biggest, strongest backbone and one of the best gurus I have ever learnt from. Dad, thank you so much for all the years of unconditional love and support through things I have done. I would not be the man I am without you. Thank you.

 

NDTV: Wrestling has been included in the Olympics. Are you excited that Indian team gets more chances to win a medal.

Leander Paes: Hundred per cent. I think wrestling is a great sport for the Olympics, especially from India's perspective. I really look forward to all the wrestlers all gearing up and preparing for the Olympics. The Olympics are the pinnacle for any athlete's life and to go out there and represent your country, play the best that you can and play for your people. It is the greatest honour any athlete can have. My last Olympics (in London, 2012) was really a rough one for me. That memory is still very fresh in my mind and not a good one. But really to go out there and play for your country would be any athlete's dream. I wish all of them good luck and Rio is a fun spot to be there at.

 

NDTV: At 40, what advice would you give to your compatriots ... sportsperson like Sachin Tendulkar. There is much heat about whether or not should he (Tendulkar) retire. Tennis is a very different from a team game like cricket. What kind of motivation works at the age of 40?

 

Leander Paes: I cannot really comment for any other sport or any other person, individually. I have a lot of respect for the Dhanraj Pillays of the world, the Sachin Tendulkars and the Dravids of the world. The way that they have conducted themselves, the way they have played their sport. The way they have played for the country is something that we all appreciate through many generations. So, to all guys out there who are close to 40 or 40-plus, we still are fighting hard. Keep doing what you do. (Blog: Paes, Tendulkar and the force of 40)

 

NDTV: Final question about the dance that you did. Your passion and enthusiasm have been amazing on the court. The 'crab' dance, how did it come about?

 

Leander Paes: We are very spontaneous. That is just something that just came. Half way through the second set against the Bryans, Radek was going through a tough time. He was serving against the wind. I knew I had to distract him and it is just something that just came through. He picked up on it  and I picked up on it. The next thing you know, the people in the crowd were doing it. It just gave us more rhythm and brought us together as a team. I think that is the important part. In a team sport, you are only as good as your teammate.

 

For me, it is not about serving the hardest or hitting the best shot, being the most flamboyant. It is about bringing the best out of my partner. Whether it takes a dance or it takes a jig or smile or whether it takes sharing a piece of music on court or whether it takes a little arm around the shoulder to say you are the best player on this court. Let's do this. Whatever it takes to bring the best out of your teammate, is important.