Paes out of Davis Cup tie

CHENNAI, SEPT. 13. The country's No. 1 tennis player and longtime Davis Cup hero, Leander Paes, has virtually ruled himself out of the World Group qualifying round tie against the United States scheduled to be held in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, from September 21 to 23.

The United States Tennis Association has requested the All India Tennis Association for a postponement of the tie following the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington and the matter is under discussion.

But even in the rare event of the AITA not agreeing to the request, Paes is unlikely to form part of the playing team.

The Olympic bronze medallist, who returned to Mumbai after making the final of the U.S. Open mixed doubles event with Lisa Raymond, finds himself in a very tight corner vis-a-vis the tie.

With airports in the United States still closed for the most part and flight schedules in disarray, it may be impossible for Paes to get to the venue of the tie in time to get enough practice.

``For one thing, it is not going to be possible for me to get there in a hurry. For another, with what has happened in New York, sport is the last thing on my mind. As much as I have loved playing for the country, I think it would be insensitive on our part to play now with what is happening there,'' Paes said on telephone from Mumbai.

The non-playing captain of the Indian team, Ramesh Krishnan, as well as Mahesh Bhupathi, Syed Fazaluddin and Harsh Mankad are already in the United States.

But when he was contacted on the phone by Mr. Anil Khanna, Secretary, All India Tennis Association - who is now in Cacun, Mexico, attending the ITF annual meeting - today, Paes clearly told the AITA official that he was in a very difficult situation in terms of trying to get to the venue, apart from the fact that the events in New York had left him deeply disturbed.

The only problem with a postponement would be to find fresh dates. Paes said that it may be possible to play the tie some time in early December, along with the Davis Cup final. Whether this would suit the United States remains to be seen.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Sport
Previous : Sai succumbs to a resolute Radhika