Bhupathi, Paes looking for consistency

The U.S. Open, which starts on Monday, has been a showcase for some of Asia's top players to show their prowess on the doubles court.

The "Indian Express" doubles team of Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes, who have been on a rollercoaster ride over the past two years, will either be the world beaters who won this year's French Open or the unpredictable pushovers who crashed out early of this year's Wimbledon.

Japan's Ai Sugiyama, the world's number one women's doubles player, will be looking to defend her doubles title at this year's tournament, albeit with a new partner.

Sugiyama took over the top spot on the doubles ranking last October when she paired with France's Julie Halard-Decugis. The pair won five doubles titles, including last year's U.S. Open.

Sugiyama partnered American Nicole Arendt this year, and the pairing have won two titles and lost in the finals of this year's Australian Open.

Bhupathi and Paes were the hottest tandem in doubles in 1999 as they appeared in the finals of all the Grand Slam events, winning the French Open and Wimbledon titles to finish the year as the world's number one pair.

They went their separate ways after their U.S. Open finals loss in 1999. Despite reuniting in 2000 they have yet to to find the consistent and powerful form that took them to the top of the rankings.

MIXED SUCCESS

In 1999, Sugiyama won her first Grand Slam title when she paired with Bhupathi to take the U.S. Open mixed doubles crown.

On the singles side, the days of Asian glory at Grand Slam events have mostly faded since Japan's Kimiko Date retired from the women's circuit in 1995.

Thailand's Tamarine Tanasugarn has been making a few waves and goes into the tournament as the women's number 27 seed.

South Korean Lee Hyung-taik, a qualifier at last year's event who lost in straight-sets in the fourth round to Pete Sampras, will be looking to repeat his powerful performance when he became the first Korean man to win a single's match in the main draw.