Leander Paes is a legend who has consistently dished out match-winning performances to win 18 Grand Slams in a 25-year-long professional career. The oldest man to have won a Grand Slam also remains the first man in the history of tennis to have partnered over hundred players in the Association of Tennis Professionals’ circuit.
Defying age and controversies over the course of his journey, the 43-year-old has epitomised adaptability and longevity like no other sportsperson. At an age when athletes have long retired from the game, Paes continues his march to further glory with no plans of stopping anytime soon.
However, a rather quiet 2016 where he slipped to a dismal 46 in the doubles rankings besides crashing out in the early stages of both the Rio Olympics and the US Open have raised doubts over the maestro’s form. He however, did manage to win the mixed doubles title at this year’s French Open with Martina Hingis.
Days before the Olympics in Rio, a storm kicked up in Indian tennis after Rohan Bopanna revealed his preference for Saketh Myneni as his doubles partner rather than Paes. Defending his choice, Bopanna argued that a younger player would better complement his style of play. This decision was backed by Vijay Amritaj, who believed that the 43-year-old was unnecessarily prolonging his career, saying that the doubles events has earned a lacklustre position in world tennis.
Critics may feel that he is past his prime and that he should step away from the circuit to make way for upcoming talent but Paes has earned the right to continue till whenever he deems fit.
43 years young
Leander Paes has defined and redefined human passion and commitment over the course of his two and a half decade career by staying surprisingly fit, even into his forties. He is a pleasure to watch when he is at his best, instilling fear into the opposition with every drop shot and forehand. His sublime winners, aces and reflexes make him look like a sixteen-year-old rather than the legend who has conquered all trophies.
Ten of his 18 Grand Slams have been won after he turned 35 which only reflect the deep-rooted, undiminished love that Paes possesses for his game. His ability to adapt to the changing techniques of over a hundred partners and devising techniques to defeat new players that crop up after every few years entails its own challenges. Needless to say, Paes has conquered these challenges, ignoring the boundaries imposed by age.
However, it is his passion when turning up for India in the Davis Cup or the Olympics that remains a cause for inspiration. Exuding grit and determination on all occasions, the maverick is a man of expressive patriotism. Chest-bumping his way to every point and tearing up after every match that has been won for the nation, Paes is a symbol of overzealous energy and is at his most evocative when the tricolour remains wrapped around his proud shoulders.
By highlighting a childlike enthusiasm and the will to notch up even more victories, Paes’ insatiable hunger for further success remains a motivating tale, indeed.
The question of his successor
Paes has scripted his story of stardom after years of consistent hard work and toil. As critics raise debates over his retirement, one cannot overlook the fact that the upcoming Indian talent fails to inspire. Over the last few years alone, players like Sanam Singh, Somdev Devvarman, Yuki Bhambri and Vishnu Vardhan have set the domestic stage on fire for a while, only to fizzle out as the days progressed.
Vardhan gained prominence in 2012 when he was chosen to partner Paes in the London Olympics after the duo of Rohan Bopanna and Mahesh Bhupathi refused to play alongside the veteran. He was bestowed with the honour of turning out at the Olympics as he was ranked an impressive 194 in the doubles circuit. Vardhan was a member of the bronze medal winning Indian team in the 2010 Asian Games and was hailed as the future of Indian tennis by none other than Paes.
However, a slew of inconsistent performances saw him end 2015 at a rank of 444. He lacks the killer instinct and tends to crumble under pressure in the dying stages of the match. Once touted as the man who would carry Paes and Bhupathi’s legacy forward, the 29-year-old has remained a talent who is yet to flourish.
Tales of unfulfilled potential
Sanam Singh remains India’s second best doubles players among the new generation of players with a current ranking of 229 in the ATP circuit. He touched his highest ranking of 138 last year. Despite being fourth in the International Tennis Federation’s junior rankings, Singh has failed to convert his junior form into the men’s arena. He has a 4-6 win record in ATP events but three victories in the ATP Challenger Trophy in the last two years must have given the 2010 Asian Games doubles gold medallist some much needed confidence.
Saketh Myneni is riding a wave of self-confidence after he qualified for the US Open this year, losing a tough five setter in the first round. He is ranked 126th in the ATP doubles circuit and had reached his highest ranking of 113 in April this year after clinching the Nanjing Challenger Trophy. However, like Devvarman and Bhambri, the double-handed backhand player considers singles as his preference. But the fact that Bopanna opted for Myneni over Paes for the Olympics is adequate proof of his talent and potential.
Bopanna’s performance in recent years also needs to be taken into account. Critics may contend that Paes should make way for a youngster who could partner the 36-year-old in the Davis Cup but a look at Bopanna’s inconsistent showings prove otherwise. Bopanna may be the current world No. 10 in the doubles rankings but he is yet to win a Grand Slam in either doubles or mixed doubles. He managed to reach the year-end Championships finals last year, partnering Romania’s Florin Mergea but overall his professional career has been in the news for his constant fitness issues and sporadic performances. It does not match up to the heights that Paes has achieved.
The crux of the matter thus remains that Paes, even at 43, has refused to let age defeat him in his journey by consistently producing praise-worthy performances on court. Youngsters have sporadically done well in tournaments, Bopanna and Bhupathi have tried valiantly to catch up to his crazy dedication but the legacy of Paes rolls on. With no worthy successor to capture his spot and with tonnes of experience in his kitty, the illustrious champion has managed to prove, that in the end, age remains just a mere number.