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Paes-Woodbridge rivalry continues
Leander Paes versus Todd Woodbridge ? this must be the most remarkable of all tennis rivalries at the Olympic Games.
Leander Paes versus Todd Woodbridge -- this must be the most remarkable of all tennis rivalries at the Olympic Games.
The two, considered among the finest doubles players of their time, will be back at the Athens Olympics for a record fourth time.
And even more interesting is the fact that Paes and Australian Woodbridge have come up against each other in each of the three Olympic Games they have played in the past.
And each time it has been in the pre-quarterfinals, the second round in a draw of 32.
The score stands 2-1 in favour of Woodbridge, who has two medals from the last two Games.
At Barcelona in 1992, it was Paes who got the better of Woodbridge.
But in 1996, the Australian won the doubles title with Mark Woodforde, while in 2000 at Sydney, the Woodies lost to Mark Knowles and Daniel Nestor in the final.
In 1992, both Paes and Woodbridge had different partners. Paes was partnering Ramesh Krishnan and the Indian pair beat Woodbridge and John Fitzgerald in four sets in the round of 16.
However in the quarterfinals, the Indian pair lost to Goran Ivanisevic and Goran Prpic in four sets and that ended their dream of a medal.
In 1992, both semi-finalist pairs were awarded the bronze.
However, from 1996 onwards the two losing semi-finalists had to play-off for the bronze.
In singles, Paes did just that and beat Argentine Ricardo Meligeni for the bronze.
And the doubles competition in 1996, Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi lost to the Woodies in three sets after winning the first.
Four years later, the Woodies ran into the Indians once again in the second round and they beat them in straight sets 6-3, 7-6 at Sydney.
But both Indians that year had been hit by injuries and suffered from not playing together as they had split the year before.
And now Paes and Bhupathi are back again for their third Olympics together and Paes is in his fourth Games, like Woodbridge.
Woodbridge is partnering Wayne Arthurs in the doubles -- and it remains to be seen if Paes and Woodbridge run into each once again.
They are two other players who will be making their fourth appearances at the Olympic Games.
They are Spaniard Arantxa Sanches Vicario, who has won four medals in three Games before. At both 1992 and 1996 Games, she won a silver and bronze medal.
The fourth player in his fourth Olympics is Andrei Pavel of Romania.
