JOIN US Leander Paes may be reveling in the maiden win of his team Japan Warriors in the second edition of the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) but his heart is keen on playing for the Indian Aces. The doubles exponent hoped he would get an opportunity next year.
Paes, who had turned out for Champions Tennis League in 2014, is making his debut for IPTL this year.
“I would love to play for the Indian team. There was a lot of deliberation about me playing in Indian team which I wanted. Indian team won the IPTL last year, so they wanted to play the same team from last year. In fact, one of the sponsors for the India team came up to me today and said though your team had been losing set after set but in the men’s doubles you keep winning. So next year we want you in our team. I said speak up then!,” Paes said after his Warriors beat UAE Royals.
Paes, who had been playing in the men’s doubles, was also eager to turn out for mixed doubles, in which he has won three Grand Slams this year. He and Pierre-Hugues Herbert beat Tomas Berdych and Daniel Nestor.
“Mixed doubles has been my best event in this year so far but Pierre (Herbert) is playing so well, so I am being benched. “I am not used to being benched for mixed doubles but I am dying to get out there and show my tennis to the fans all over the world,” he said.
Paes felt the IPTL has a lot to contribute to Indian tennis. “From how I see it, IPTL is a direct rub off from IPL. The way IPL has transformed the cricket in the nation and the world, IPTL is doing for our country,” he said.