03 February,2009 09:28 AM IST | | Ashwin Ferro
Despite having won six mixed doubles Grand Slams earlier, Bhupathi never expected to win this one. Here's why...
For a player who has been working hard on the circuit for seven years now to add to his three men's doubles Grand Slam titles (see box), Mahesh Bhupathi instead had to settle for yet another mixed doubles crown at the Australian Open over the weekend.
Bhupathi added a seventh mixed doubles title to his kitty, pairing for the first time with an Indian Sania Mirza. But the six mixed Grand Slam titles did not make him and Mirza favourites to win at Melbourne Park.u00a0 At least, Bhupathi never thought so.
The wild card entrants at the year's first Grand Slam least expected to lay their hands on the trophy, Bhupathi told MiD DAY in an interview.
Excerpts.
Being a wild card entry at the Australian Open mixed doubles event, did you honestly expect to win the tournament?
To be honest, we obviously did not expect to win because not only were we wild card entrants but one must not forget that Sania was playing in a competitive tournament after a long time and coming off an injury break.
So in that sense, the win is a bonus. We just took to the court and started getting through our matches really well, and that's when we thought we have a chance of wining this.
Were you that extra bit aggressive in the mixed final, given you lost the doubles a day earlier?
Not really, but Sania and myself had closely watched Andy and Dechy in the previous matches. We had a strategy in place and thankfully we executed it perfectly.
Could you describe Sania as a doubles partner?
She is a big game player so she makes for a great partner. She hits the ball really hard and can be very effective at the net too. Her big forehand is always a big plus.
u00a0
What sort of an impact do you think this win will have on Sania's career?
It will be a big confidence booster for her. She's got age on her side. Winning a Grand Slam is the stuff that you dream of as a kid and she has achieved it.
It would be wonderful is she can continue this form in the singles circuit.
Do you think that section of the society that always looks to drag Sania into some controversy or the other, will change their outlook towards her now that she's become the first Indian woman to win a Grand Slam?
I would love it if the Indian fans, critics and the public in general concentrate on the tennis rather than the players, and more so when it comes to Sania.
In fact, I expected 'those' people to change their outlook towards her years ago as she's been doing well for the country for so long now. However, I will be happy if that happens at least now.
With Leander having won the US Open mixed doubles and now you and Sania winning here, do you think this has opened up a new avenue for young aspirants of the game in Indian to concentrate on the mixed doubles segment?
Definitely not! Mixed doubles should always be looked upon as a bonus, rather than a career option because there are very limited options on the international circuit only four to be precise. You can play mixed doubles only at the four Slams.
I would like youngsters to still concentrate on the singles aspect of the game. And yes, doubles too is definitely an option.
