NEWS
OTHER SPORTS
DIARY
PEOPLE
MATCH REPORTS
SLIDE SHOW
ARCHIVES

Paes to focus on singles in 2000

Pankaj Doval

He may have achieved his goals for now, but Leander Paes is already looking forward to the new millennium.

''The goals I had set for this year are achieved -- that of winning a doubles Grand Slam, in my and Mahesh's (Bhupathi) case two: the French Open and Wimbledon, and a surprise entry in the other two and ending the year as number one, but the agenda for the new year is already on my mind.

''It comprises, among others, an Olympics gold for the country, but the foremost remains working on my singles performance and ranking,'' the Indian tennis ace said.

Paes, who has seen his singles ranking dip as low as 200 this year, and is currently 205, said, ''I have to be more selective in the tournaments I play next year. Even though we would again aim to end as the number one doubles pair next year, I would now give more priority to my singles game.''

He began this year with an ATP ranking of 114 and improved it to 91 before plunging below 200. His ranking kept on dipping this year and in September it was 178. Paes' career-best is 73 which he achieved in August 1998.

Paes, 26, said physical fitness was a very important factor as ''Age is catching up with me.'' He lost to China's Zhu Ben Quiang 6-4, 2-6, 2-6 in India's 2-1 win in the Asia Cup in New Delhi and did not play in the match against Japan, which the hosts eventually lost.

''The kind of body I have, and keeping in mind the required fitness levels, the key for success for me is a more balanced and selective schedule.''

Paes, who has not won any ATP tour events this year, said he believed he had four more years still left in him on the professional circuit. He could not defend his Newport title, losing in the quarterfinal. All he could win this year were two ATP challengers in Calcutta (February) and New Delhi (April).

''However, this is only possible if I play to a schedule. I have to be more specific with the events I play, with more importance to singles.

Olympics, and the still unconquered Australian and US Opens still figure in the list of our priority.''

Paes could not go beyond the third round in any of the four Grand Slam tournaments this year. His highest achievement was third round in the US Open, where he lost to French star Cedric Pioline.

Asia's no.1 last year, he is now only a poor no. 5.

Paes said he was looking forward to India's Davis Cup tie with Lebanon next year which is slated in India. ''That is definitely on my mind.''

About the surface or the venue they would like to play on he said, ''We haven't decided on the venue as yet, but the surface would definitely be grass.''

On his immediate plans he said, ''I have the Lucknow and the Jaipur Challengers, which begin this month, on my schedule. I hope to do well on them to help improve my singles and get my rhythm back.''