leander Paes will have to forego his claim on the mixed doubles event to be able to play in his seventh Olympics as efforts are being made to convince Rohan Bopanna to accept him as a men’s doubles partner for the Rio Olympic Games.
It is Bopanna, who has earned a direct entry into the men’s doubles event by virtue of his top-10 ATP ranking that also gives him the privilege to pick the partner of his choice.
The 42-year-old Paes’ dream of appearing in a record seventh Olympics may remain a dream if Bopanna decides to play with a player, ranked lower than Paes (world No 46), since it would mean the veteran cannot go to Rio.
For the lack of enough higher-ranked players, India can field only one team in men’s doubles.
A tense AITA (All India Tennis Association) is trying to ensure that no bad blood is created this time before Olympics and everyone gets to play. Bopanna has not revealed his choice as yet but it has been learnt that AITA is likely to ask him to pair with Paes, keeping in mind the popular sentiment as well his ability.