Indian tennis ace Leander Paes on Tuesday said in all probability he would skip playing singles at the Doha Asian Games in December to focus on doubles and mixed doubles.
"As of now I think I will be concentrating all my efforts on the doubles [with Mahesh Bhupathi] and the mixed doubles [with Sania Mirza]. I am questioning whether I should play the singles, but as of now I am focusing on just playing the doubles and the mixed doubles," Paes told reporters in Mumbai on Tuesday.
"The team events are always important to me. I do not want to take out too much from me by playing the singles and not having anything left for the doubles and mixed doubles," he added.
He said it would be a huge challenge to team up with Bhupathi at the Games, since they haven't been playing together for a long time. The last time the former world No 1 pair teamed up was for the Davis Cup tie against Pakistan in April and the 2004 Olympic Games.
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"We are the favourites for the Asian Games. If we end up not doing well, it would be a big disappointment. However, it would be a huge challenge, but we played together for eight years. The quality of competition would not be as high as the professional circuit, but we just need to guard against complacency," said the US Open doubles champion.
"I must also add that playing the mixed doubles with Sania [Mirza] would be also another challenge. We won the bronze medal last time, so definitely there will be some pressure on us," Paes said.
Asked why he decided to team up with Pakistan's Aisam Qureshi for the Kingfisher Airlines tournament in Mumbai, he replied: "Originally I had decided to play with [Martin] Damm. We played a lot of tennis together this year. But this tournament was so close to the US Open and the Davis Cup, so he decided not to come."
He also praised Qureshi, saying, "It is an honour to play with him."
"Aisam is a good friend of mine and I hold him in high regard. He is a wonderful player and is likeminded. He also plays the serve and volley game and is very aggressive, so I am looking forward to the partnership," he said.
The 33-year-old also informed that he initially wanted to partner Bhupathi at the Mumbai tournament, but that did not materialise as Bhupathi had already committed to Mario Ancic.
"Actually I thought of partnering Mahesh as it would have been a good practice for the Asian Games. But he had a prior commitment with Mario [Ancic]. They won their last event in Beijing so it was obvious they wanted to continue their partnership.
"My first choice here [Mumbai] was Mahesh, which didn't work out. Also, all the other Indian players were already playing with others; so Aisam was the obvious choice," he added.
Paes, who won the 2006 US Open doubles title with Damm, said the goal is now to continue the winning run for the rest of the year.
"I am playing the winter season with Martin to practice our indoor skills for the World Team doubles event [in Shanghai]. It is one title that has evaded me. I came close to winning it last year, and I hope I can do it this time," he said.
Paes also stated that 2006 has been a fantastic year for him and one of him most successful ones. He won the US Open, finished runners-up at the Australian Open, and was also blessed with a baby girl.
"2006 has been a special year for me. It has been one of the best years for me, both professionally and personally."
Damm, his regular doubles partner, also came in for praise.
"Damm has been a terrific partner; I couldn't ask more of a doubles partner. It has been a great ride with him so far. He is a close confidant of me and I am his. I learnt a lot from him and he has learnt a lot from me. I am already thinking of being his partner in 2007," he said.
He further asserted that the main reason he is playing in Mumbai is to lend support his home tournament and Bhupathi.
Paes and Qureshi will be launching their campaign at the Kingfisher Open on Wednesday with a first round doubles match against Germany's Konstantinos Economidis and Ramon Delgudo of Paraguay.
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