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Rohan fired up to serve gold
Bopanna had been playing non-stop tennis, resulting in wearout during the Friendship series against Pakistan earlier this month, writes S Kannan.
The Doha-bound Indian tennis squad is battling injuries, with Rohan Bopanna’s fluent performance in the Asian Hopman Cup, which ended in Hyderabad on Sunday, being one of the positives.
After Leander Paes opted out of the competition at the last minute, Bopanna was drafted in. And the tall Coorgi won all his three singles matches. “I am fired up for the Asian Games,” he told HT.
Bopanna had been playing non-stop tennis, resulting in ‘wearout’ during the Friendship series against Pakistan earlier this month. He, however, took a break and has come back with batteries charged.
He admitted that the quality of opposition in Hyderabad was not very tough. “It was not very tough, the guy I beat in the final (Ti Chen from Chinese Taipei) is ranked in the 300-region,” said Bopanna.
But the biggest plus from the Indian point of view was Bopanna’s serve. “I did not drop a single serve in Hyderabad,” he said.
On playing mixed doubles with Sania Mirza he said, “It was very exciting. We had won our singles matches in all three ties, so the mixed doubles was not a pressure match. But it was a good experience.”
While Prakash Amritraj’s already opted out of the Games due to a wrist injury, Harsh Mankad is also doubtful for reasons other than fitness. Mankad, who missed the Mumbai ATP event as well, may not be able to travel as he is now in the US and his green card is being processed.
Even though the All India Tennis Association has contacted the Indian embassy in the US and asked them to take up the issue with authorities there, it is unlikely he will be allowed to travel outside the country.
“We will know about it only by Tuesday,” said Amarbir Singh, speaking on behalf of the AITA. When asked who would replace Mankad, Anil Khanna, secretary, AITA, said, “It is still not certain, but Mustafa Ghouse may come in for Harsh as he will pair up with Bopanna,” he said.
Which means Bopanna and Karan Rastogi will shoulder the singles responsibility.
