Paes-Bhupathi for Gold Flake doubles

Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi will team up again for the Gold Flake Open tennis tournament, beginning in Madras, from January 1, 2001.

The pair had to miss the 2000 tournament due to Bhupathi's shoulder injury. They have a brilliant track record at the tournament, having won all the three championships they played in, in 1997, 1998 and 1999.

Tournament director Sheila Maniam, in a statement, said Paes and Bhupathi, runners-up at last week's ATP World doubles championships in Bangalore, have confirmed for the week-long tournament.

"They will be playing a full season together," she added.

The 2001 tournament will feature top rankers in the world, like Magnus Norman, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Cedric Pioline, defending champion Jerome Golmard and 1999 champion Byron Black.