By Scoop Malinowski
Leander Paes if 44 years old and proving this week in Dallas that he has plenty of magic left in his bag of tricks.
The tennis legend from India, who openly talked about how close he could be to retiring last January in Chennai, has apparently changed his mind. Paes and partner Raja Purav played three straight Challenger events to close out 2017 and won a couple of rounds at this year’s Australian Open.
Last week Paes, playing with a new partner – American veteran doubles specialist James Cerretani, won the title in Newport Beach.
This week, Paes has yet another new partner, Brit Joe Salisbury, and the all time doubles great has resumed his hot streak in Dallas.
In the first round, top seeded Paes and Salisbury defeated Aliaksandr Bury and Hsien-Yin Peng 46 61 18-16.
In the second round, Paes and Salisbury survived another marathon nailbiting thriller against Hunter Reese and Ruben Gonzalez 63 26 17-15.
Now Paes and Salisbury are into the semifinal where they will meet Austin Krajicek and Jackson Withrow.
Who knows how much these kinds of dramatic wins will pump new confidence into the tank of Paes who certainly is proving he can still win matches on the ATP World Tour, even at the tender age of 44.
Art by Andres Bella.
" Leander Paes · Head · India · Paes
Dan Markowitz · February 3, 2018 at 6:41 pm
Paes is a wonder. He’s such a great player and inspiring figure. And he’s done it in the ATP tour and WTR. Love watching Leander play.
Duke Carnoustie · February 4, 2018 at 1:19 am
Paes loses in the final to fellow Indian Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan.
I remember the days of Ramesk Krishnan. He was a technician with the racket.
catherine · February 4, 2018 at 1:32 am
One thing I remember about Krishnan – in a press conference some reporter asked a particularly idiotic question about some resuts K had had and Ramesh said:
‘You should know this. You should not be asking me these questions.’
🙂