Indian players should focus on singles: Paes, Bhupathi

Former tennis players Mahesh Bhupathi (left) and Leander Paes during a promotional event in the city on Friday. Pic/PTI

Tennis legends Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi are not in favour of more Indians choosing doubles over singles, saying the highest accolades in the sport go to individual performers.

"No, why would we do that?" Bhupathi told PTI when asked if Indians should focus more on doubles.

"We have not had a quarterfinalist in a Grand Slam of the singles since Ramesh Krishnan [in mid-1980s]. I think that is where we should focus," he said, adding, "The bar has been set very high by us [in doubles]. If you are going to try and beat that, it is going to take a few decades."

Also Read: India can win medal in men's doubles at Asian Games: Leander Paes

"You have got to look at all different disciplines on its own, whether it is singles or doubles or mixed doubles - it is all a part of tennis. [But] focussing on singles is the way to go because that is where the highest accolades are," added Paes on the sidelines of an US Polo Association event here on Friday.

Paes said the country will have to be realistic with its aspirations.

"That is where realism has to come in to see the level of support, the level of encouragement, the level of training and the level of dollars that is invested in to nurture talent. It is all relative," he said.

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