Leander Paes' love for football is no secret. In fact, while on the Tour, he has at times even gone over to watch some of the top European teams like Real Madrid and Barcelona practice in their backyards.
Leander Paes' love for football is no secret. In fact, while on the Tour, he has at times even gone over to watch some of the top European teams like Real Madrid and Barcelona practice in their backyards.
It's no wonder then that India's most capped Davis Cupper was thrilled when he came face to face with Barcelona striker Thierry Henry in Paris yesterday.
"Henry's definitely one of my favourite footballers," a thrilled Paes told MiD DAY from the French capital, where he is scheduled to play in the doubles event of the Paris Masters with partner Lukas Dlouhy.
Paes, returning to the tennis courts after a two-month lay-off due to a shoulder injury that got aggravated during his victorious US Open final against Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles in September, is seeded fourth in the Paris event (Bhupathi-Knowles are No 3 seeds).
Paes further added that Henry and he are no strangers to each other. In fact, the French footballer and former Arsenal hero even recalled a bit of history between Paes and Paris.
"Henry has a great sense of humour. He actually remembered my Davis Cup match in 1993 in the south of France when I beat (Henri) Leconte and even gave me some stick for it," said Paes, who back then had won both his singles tie against Arnaud Boetsch and Leconte in Frejus to help India enter the Davis Cup semi-finals.
"Super times," signed off Paes. Indeed!
