Leander Paes is delighted that his Sunday's mixed doubles triumph gets added to India's other great sporting achievements in Australia
Leander Paes is delighted that his Sunday's mixed doubles triumph gets added to India's other great sporting achievements in Australia
Leander Paes does not believe in counting his trophies. It's good, because going by the number of titles he keeps winning each year, that will be a very difficult job to do. However, he believes Grand Slam No 11 u00e2u0080u0094 the Australian Open mixed doubles title that he won with Cara Black at Melbourne Park yesterday u00e2u0080u0094 is special because being on top Down Under is the ultimate sporting high.
Excerpts from an interview:
Given Australia's sporting culture, it must be a proud feeling to win a second (2003 & 2010) Grand Slam mixed doubles title Down Under...
I have always enjoyed playing in front of Australian crowds. They are a very sporting lot and appreciate a good effort. Right from my junior days, I have enjoyed great support here and on Sunday Cara and me enjoyed the bulk of crowd support.
Twenty-five years ago in Melbourne, India won the 1985 Benson & Hedges World Championship of Cricket. Two years later, we beat Australia in the Davis Cup in Sydney...
I remember those triumphs very well. Both have pride of place in Indian sporting history. I thought Ramesh Krishnan and Kapil Dev were simply fabulous. I'm glad my win is memorable too.
Does Grand Slam title No 11 hold special significance as it makes you India's highest Slam winner (at par with Mahesh Bhupathi)?
For me, numbers really don't matter. Having played for over two decades, there is nothing I have to prove to anyone. I don't really look at the numbers. Every Grand Slam win has its own significance.
Cara and you won Sunday's final quite comfortably. Was it that easy out there?
A Grand Slam final is never easy. But yes I thought our semi-final victory 6-7 (6/8), 7-6 (7/5), 10-7 over Lisa Raymond and Wesley Moodie was a very tough match. I had told Cara then that the winner of this match should go on and win the final. And that's exactly what happened.
This victory must keep you in good stead for the tough Davis Cup (March 5-7) clash against the Russians in their own backyard...
It's a challenge playing the Russians anywhere in the world, so in their own country will definitely be tough. But, for me, the season has started on a great note and I'm looking forward to meeting the Russians. It's important to keep the momentum going. There's a whole season ahead.
Missing out on the Australian Open men's doubles title once again must have hurt. This and the French mixed title, are the only trophies missing from the cabinet.
Honestly, I don't see it as a miss. For me, it's a look-forward. It's something that I will play for and try to achieve the next time I come here. I'm sure it will come.
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