Tough to set new goals after achieving everything: Paes
new delhi — At 44, with 18 Grand Slam titles and an Olympic medal in his cupboard, Leander Paes is finding it “tough to set new goals” but still spent his off-season getting stronger to remain relevant in modern day tennis, which is being dominated by brute power.
Many of his contemporaries have become coaches and many of his juniors have already hung racquets but this Indian legend’s hunger for tennis is far from satiated.
“For me the off-season is about skill, endurance, weights, core, back, reinventing my game because now the game has become physical. All these boys are 6’3”, 6’5”. They are so strong, that your reaction time becomes less because the ball is being hit so hard.
“Building power means that the serve can be powerful. The forehand can be stronger. You can come back with a new style of doubles. So, the off-season for me is
For me the off-season is about skill, endurance, weights, core, back, reinventing my game because now the game has become physica Leander Paes
more about physical fitness and also about setting new goals because I am finding it very tough to set new goals,” Paes told PTI in an exclusive interview.
The question of retirement keeps popping now and then with many wondering what keeps him going?
“Right now I am going through a beautiful part of my tennis career, where I don’t need to prove anything. To be able to still control the ball to be still able to command the court, it still motivates me.”
The legendary player hinted that he wants to develop into a role model. “I enjoy the game. I have achieved everything, I wanted to. Now I am playing for myself. I want to motivate people around the world that if Leander can do something even through hard and tough times, if I can keep that health and fitness and happiness about my life, then everybody else can.
“We live in times, where life is very hard. There is terrorism everywhere, there is poverty, the cost of living is rising, lots of scams going on but you need good role models out there to show that life is tough but can be good too,” he said.
When asked if he still wants to play one more Asian Games and the Olympics, he replied: “That does not push me. I play, because I have fun. If that comes along, wonderful.”
Paes said he indeed has become stronger, this year. “I have done lot more weights. If you see, the strength in lower part of the body is very good.”