Mahesh Bhupathi will be sharing the court with a different partner for the fourth year running when the current season begins. After playing the last two years on Tour with compatriots Rohan Bopanna and Leander Paes, the 38-year-old is now joining hands with Canadian Daniel Nestor. Nestor, 40, is a former number one who slipped back in the ranking only post the US Open.
Bopanna has now sought to re-kindle his former successful partnership with Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi. “I’m aware of the development between Bhupathi and Nestor, and Bopanna asked me about my plans. I have asked him to give me two weeks. If I do change my partner, Bopanna will be my first choice,” Qureshi said from Pakistan.
Last year, Bopanna had called off his association with Qureshi in order to get some on court time together with his partner for the Olympics, Bhupathi. “Last time it was not my call, this time I have to make sure I talk to my current partner Jean-Julien Roger, ask him if he’s happy with me. I am meeting also meeting Bopanna in Japan, and hopefully he can wait till then for my call,” Qureshi added.
Bhupathi had last won a men’s doubles Grand Slam in 2002 with Max Mirnyi, who had played with Nestor until recently. However, facing injury niggles, the Belarusian was not sure about playing the full season next year and that made Nestor turn towards Bhupathi.
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