Leander Paes

He Has Had Tiffs With His Fellow Players and Has Been Extremely Unprofessional at Some World Events, Which Has Often Given Indian Tennis a Bad Name...

- Bhavesh Bhimani

Leander Paes and controversy have always been hand in hand. The veteran Indian tennis player, despite his fine achievements, has always been at the centre of one controversy or the other. He has had tiffs with his fellow players and has been extremely unprofessional at some world events, which has often given Indian tennis a bad name. But far from accepting the error of his ways, Paes has always gone on the blame anyone and everyone for his misdemeanors.

During the Rio Olympics this year, Paes had partnered with Rohan Bopanna for the Indian Men’s Doubles event. This was the 43-year-old’s seventh Olympics and many Indian fans were elated at this achievement. However, everyone was left disappointed as Paes arrived in Rio just a day before his doubles match and without much practice with his doubles partner. He was also criticized for not being at the games along with other team members while everyone else had reached their seven days before Paes did.

Apparently, Paes reached Rio late as a result of a club tennis engagement in the US. When questioned about this, Paes brazenly said to the press, “I was playing and winning so I was not here to practice. And they (Bopanna or other India players) came early because they lost early. It was certainly not because they were here to play together.”