Farewell! Leander Paes to play final doubles game in India
India's most successful tennis player Leander Paes is all set to play his final doubles game in the country. The veteran tennis ace has reached the finale of the ongoing Bengaluru Open 2020. Paes and his partner Matthew Ebden are set to face the pair of Purav Raja and Ramkumar Ramanathan. Here we look at his profile and achievements.
Paes/Ebden got the better off Biaz Rola and Zhang Zhizhen 7-6, 6-4 in straights sets in the opening round of the tournament. The duo then beat Andre Goransson and Christopher Rungkat 7-5, 6-0, 7-10. In the semi-final, the two went on to script another impressive hard-fought victory. They beat Andrel Vasilevski and Jonathan Erlich 6-4, 3-6, 10-7.
Paes will hope to sign off with a bang in front of the home crowd. He and his partner enter the final as the favorites. To win the final tourney at home after a glorious career is something everyone is rooting for. Paes stated on his Twitter profile that it's a dream to be in the final of the last tourney on home soil.
The veteran Paes is set to participate in all the Grand Slams this year. After bowing out in the second round of the mixed doubles event at Australian Open 2020, he will be looking forward to the upcoming French Open. He will then feature at the Wimbledon and US Open. With 18 Grand Slams (men's doubles and mixed), Paes will eye a final push.
The 46-year-old has collected 54 ATP Tour doubles honors in a glittering career. He also won a historic bronze medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Notably, Paes is just three short of making 100 career Grand Slam appearances.
Someone said to me “ imagine being in the final of your last tournament on home soil” I said - that would be the DREAM!! And I guess I get to live it today!! Finals of the @blropen with @matt_ebden .. Happy that whoever wins today, it’s a win for 🇮🇳 #OneLastRoar pic.twitter.com/0bJguUzLSX
— Leander Paes (@Leander) February 15, 2020
