The bickering trio of Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna will have a point to prove when the Wimbledon Championships start here today
Seeded fourth, Paes will be pairing up with Radek Stepanek of Czech Republic in the men’s doubles. The duo already have a Grand Slam win under their belt in 2012, triumphing at the Australian Open.
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Bhupathi and Bopanna, seeded seventh will have more at stake as they held the All India Tennis Association (AITA) to ransom, refusing to pair with Paes at the London Olympics, with the matches also to be held at the All England Club.
The doubles draw on Saturday has made things even more interesting with Paes-Stepanek and Bhupathi-Bopanna in the same half. The two teams could square off as early as the quarterfinals.
Paes-Stepanek start their Wimbledon campaign against Colombian combine of Alejandro Falla and Santiago Giraldo. Bhupathi-Bopanna play Marcel Felder of Uruguay and Malek Jaziri of Tunisia.
Sania Mirza pairing with American Bethanie Mattek-Sands will open her women’s doubles campaign against Alla Kudryavtesa of Russia and American Sloane Stephens.
Main clashes today
>> Novak Djokovic (SRB x1) vs Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP)
>> Maria Sharapova (RUS x1) vs Anastasia Rodionova (AUS)
>> Roger Federer (SUI x3) vs Albert Ramos (ESP)
>> Kim Clijsters (BEL) vs Jelena Jankovic (SRB x18)
>> Venus Williams (USA) vs Elena Vesnina (RUS)