Even if Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes used to play doubles together, they have never enjoyed a fantastic relationship.
The Indian tennis legends had another (useless) fight about the latest Davis Cup tie against Uzbekistan (Indian won 4-1).
What happened?
Mahesh is the captain of the Indian team, and he asked Leander to go to Bengaluru to support the team. Interesting enough, Mahesh didn’t make Paes play the doubles (so why asking him to come?) prompting a fierce reaction from Leander that is currently the most successful doubles player in Davis Cup history alongside with Italian legend Nicola Pietrangeli (42 wins). Another victory would have meant a lot for Leander, but Bhupathi didn’t let it happen (and probably he will never). Therefore, Paes was dropped for the first time in 27 years.
The WhatsApp conversation made public
To add some more controversy, Bhupathi decided to publish his conversation on WhatsApp with Leander. Mahesh did that to prove that he has never promised Leander that he would have played (so, why bother?).
Paes fights back
Leander Paes replied with the following communicate
“I was never categorically told that I would not be playing, but it was apparent that the decision was made before I arrived in Bangalore. This is what I found unnecessary and disrespectful,” Paes said in a statement.
That a private (WhatsApp) exchange has been made public just points to the kind of conduct that I find unbecoming of a Davis Cup captain. Talk is cheap, history books, however, don’t lie.”
| DURING THE NICE OLD DAYS |
