MAHESH BHUPATHI’S results in the ATP Tour in 2005 haven’t been anything to rave about, but if you talk to him, he gives the impression there’s nothing really wrong.
There is a school of thought that thinks Mahesh is so preoccupied with business these days, that his own tennis is taking a backseat.
On the eve of The Championships at Wimbledon, Mahesh says he’s not worried about what the world thinks of him.
“I know I am training as hard as I used to before, it’s just that I have a niggling back injury. But I am taking treatment daily and am looking forward to doing well with Todd Woodbridge,” said Mahesh from London on Thursday.
The Aussie — one half of what was known as The Woodies — always comes to Wimbledon high on confidence. When he was there on court with Mark Woodforde, they were like a wall. And even after Woodforde stopped playing, Woodbridge has done extremely well.
Woodbridge won at the All England Club from 2002 to 2004. And in what could possibly be his last year on the road, he expects to repeat it with Mahesh as partner.
So why is a pair as experienced as Mahesh and Woodbridge won only one title till now in 2005 — just Sydney? “I think each pair takes time to gel. There is nothing wrong with the tennis we are playing, just that things haven’t fallen in place,” says Mahesh.
{{/usCountry}}So why is a pair as experienced as Mahesh and Woodbridge won only one title till now in 2005 — just Sydney? “I think each pair takes time to gel. There is nothing wrong with the tennis we are playing, just that things haven’t fallen in place,” says Mahesh.
{{/usCountry}}He says a good draw would help. “This is a special place, and we have coach Mark Woodforde helping us out,” says Mahesh, insisting that this rather lacklustre year is not weighing on his mind.
“We have lost a lot of close matches. At Indian Wells, Miami and a few other places where were lost in the semis, our opponents went on to become winners,” says Mahesh.
There are strong rumours that if the duo win , the Australian will call it quits. “I haven’t talked to Todd about his retirement. But yes, I have heard he may decide to quit.”