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Mahesh Bhupathi admitted that he and his partner Leander Paes did not believe they had much chance of winning the Wimbledon doubles. ``I had my flights booked (by my coach) back mid-first week,'' he said in his post-match interview after winning the Wimbledon men's doubles on Sunday: Excerpts:
Q: What's the feeling after winning the French Open and Wimbledon?
Q: Would you say this was harder to win than the French?
A. Much harder, physically.
Q: First set tie-break, 5-0 up, and then that slump.
A: Yes, it happens. We were up 5-0, we had three mini breaks and we just let it slide. Two pretty average volleys. But to give us a little credit, we didn't let our heads hang too far. That's the good thing about best of five sets -- there's always a long road back.
Q: Any particular strategy after losing -- in the last three matches --the first sets. What was strategy?
A: We are normally fast starters. But I've been struggling with an injury, and it takes timefor me to get going. I can't even reach up when that thing is cold. So the rain break didn't really do us much good today, but it's surprising we lost the first set in the last three matches. But it's not normal for us to do that.
Q: What came right here? I mean, what happened along the way in this fortnight that you guys played so well. Especially in the fifth set, when it mattered most?
A: Two things. One is we came in with a lot of confidence winning the French. And in crunch situations, like in tie-breaks, we normally raise our levels.
Q: Your feelings on going out and serving for the championship. And this is like a tie-break situation, you could lose a point there. So you're talking about holding two mini points there, and winning the championship. What kind of feelings enter into your mind at that time?
A: I don't know. The only thing you try is to take as many deep breaths as you can and concentrate on getting your first serve in, because it's not only when you're serving. Iremember when I was serving 4-5 in the fourth, my hands were were shaking. So I didn't want the match to go to the fifth, but, you know, it's tough. It's the same for the other guys, playing a Grand Slam final is tough. So you just try and take as many deep breaths as you can and try and make them beat you.
Q: Were you any less nervous because you'd played a couple of five setters, you had won the French Open already?
A: No, I don't think so.
Q: How did the atmosphere out there feel?
A: It was great. We didn't expect such a big crowd on Court 1 today, especially with the two matches going on on Centre, so I think we used that to our whole benefit with all the Indian support and everything.
Q: What were you doing especially well today in this tournament?
A: What we do always. We fought well together as a team, you know. We don't -- no matter -- he missed a few volleys, I missed a few returns in the first set breaker, you know, we just keep our head up, we just keep on eggingeach other on. That's why we're so good as a team, because we're always giving 100 per cent for each other out there.
Q: You've been going pretty well for the last couple of years, but you didn't really make it at Wimbledon. What kind of strategy you had planned differently this year?
A: I had my flights booked (by my coach) back mid-first week, but we just came in with a lot of confidence. We knew we couldn't get good practice, because emotionally we were drained after the French. So Queen's wasn't going to help us at all. But I think what was good for us is we had a couple of easy first matches to get us going, and then, you know, we were really lucky with the support we've had from the Indians, and like we do every year in Chennai, we had good support and we use that in the grand situations in the fifth set of every match. So that pulled us through a lot.
Q. When you won the last point, what was the last word between you and Paes? What was the last word that Paes told you or you toldLeander Paes?
A: I don't think we said anything. I think we were just in shock.
Q. After you guys won ...
A: No, we were just looking at each other. I didn't know what to do. I think I had tears in my eyes. He was ready to cry, and, you know, for us to win Wimbledon, it's always been a dream. To be honest, a dream that we never thought would come true. So it was pretty special.
Q: How do your games complement each other to make you such a good team?
A: Well, it's his speed at the net, his quick hands, and his speed around the court. I hit my big serves, big returns, and he just closes out the point. I think that's pretty much how we complement each other.
Q. 1999 has been such a breakthrough year for you. What's happened? Is it just a question of your teamwork and experience gathering pace?
A: It's just a matter of maturing. We've made a lot of semi-finals last year, three or four semis, and the year before, so we knew if we just kept at our hard work, you know, thebreaks would come. We made the final in Australia. We finally broke the barrier of winning that title in Paris. So, you know, I think we've matured a lot as a team.
Q. With such success in the doubles, does that mean that you're going to play even less singles now?
A: Yes, well, my singles usually comes after Wimbledon, and unfortunately I'm injured. So I've got to pull out of whatever I'm playing. I'm going home tomorrow.
Q. What exactly is the injury?
A: I don't know, I've torn a few fibres in my lower sub-abdominal on the left side, and I've been playing with it the last three days, so it's kind of done it to the right side as well. So it's just got worse and worse.
Q: What kind of impact does your success have in India on young players?
A: You know, I know for a fact that the sport has definitely picked up in the last couple of years. These two titles, I think, especially since they've been showing it (on TV) back home, is I think going to do a hell of a lot for tennis inIndia.
(Courtesy: Official website of Wimbledon)
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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