Paes to bring curtains down in 2020
NEW DELHI: Indian tennis icon Leander Paes on Wednesday announced that he will bring the curtains down on his illustrious career in 2020, which will be his farewell season on the professional circuit.
His cupboard filled with trophies that include 18 Grand Slam doubles titles, the 46-year-old has been enduring a lean patch for some time. The last of his 18 Grand Slams came at the 2016 French Open, a mixed doubles title with Martina Hingis.
Paes, who is the most successful doubles player in the history of Davis Cup with 44 wins, recently dropped out of top-100 in the ATP rankings for the first time in 19 years.
“I want to announce 2020 as my farewell year as a pro tennis player,” Paes wrote in a statement, which he posted on his Twitter handle.
“I am looking forward to the 2020 tennis calendar where I will be playing a few select tournaments, travelling with my team and celebrating with all my friends and fans around the world. It is all of you who have inspired me to become me and I want to take this year to say “Thank You” to you,” the statement further added.
Paes is targeting to be the only tennis player in the history of the sport to play eight successive
Olympics. In a career spanning nearly three decades, during which he also overcame a brain tumour, the Tokyo Olympics could be a fitting swansong, provided he qualifies.
He is the only tennis player from the country to have won a singles Olympic medal as he grabbed a historic bronze at the 1996 Atlanta Games. With compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi, he created a potent partnership during which they dominated the circuit in late 1990s, winning three Grand Slam titles together and claiming the No 1 rank.
In their partnership, they also weaved a record 24-match unbeaten streak before splitting as a team due to sustained differences of opinion.
India’s Davis Cup hero thanked his parents—dr Vece Paes and Jennifer, both sportspersons who represented India at the highest level—for giving him the sports genes.
“I want to thank my parents for their genetics, guidance, discipline, environment they created and unconditional love they’ve always shown me throughout my life, I would not be who I am without your unstinting support and belief in me, I love you.
“2020 is going to be an emotional one and I look forward to seeing all of you out there rolling with me. It has been an honour being your lionheart,” Paes added in his statement.