Paes eyes French Open for Olympics record
INDIA’S tennis icon Leander Paes on Monday (25) said he was eyeing a French Open comeback this year in his quest to make a record eighth appearance at the Olympics in Tokyo.
Paes, 47, said he skipped the Australian Open as he was apprehensive about playing in a bio-bubble, but was looking ahead to the French Open.
“Playing sport in a bio-bubble is very tough and may not be the best thing to do. I got a grand farewell at the Australian Open last year, so I felt this year I would sit out and watch,” Paes said.
The Olympic bronze medallist in singles and multipletime doubles Grand Slam winners was speaking during the launch of a cricket tournament named after his father Dr Vece Paes, a bronze winner for India at the 1972 Olympics.
In December 2019, Paes had announced his ‘One Last Roar’ plan. He said 2020 would be his last season as a professional player, culminating with the Tokyo Games, but the event has been pushed back by a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“It’s my goal to represent India in my eighth successive Olympics. I’ve been practising hard, putting in three hours every day and I’m in the last 100m sprint of a long career. The Tokyo Olympics is important to make sure India keeps the record,” Paes said.