CHENNAI, JUNE 6: ``It is a very happy but not surprising news,'' was how maestro Ramanathan Krishan reacted to Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi winning the French Open doubles title in Paris on Sunday. They became the first Indians ever to win a Grand Slam while attaining the No 1 position in the latest ATP rankings which will be released on Monday.Krishnan, speaking to this paper on Sunday evening, said: ``I think, they are capable of winning more Grand Slam titles. After all, both Leander and Mahesh are young, and they are obviously the best doubles team in the World today,'' said Krishnan, himself a twice singles semifinalist at Wimbledon.
Lending his usual matter-of-fact perspective to the Paes-Bhupathi feat, Krishnan said: ``After all, in the past year, there has been talk about the two boys winning a Grand Slam. As such, their achievement today in Paris was not a surprise, but it is a very happy news.''
Krishnan felt that the Paes-Bhupathi combination still has much to offer. ``We have a lot tolook forward to from this pair and I feel that they will achieve bigger things.''
Krishnan's son Ramesh said ``It's a milestone in Indian tennis and Indian sport. Winning the first Grand Slam is always difficult, but now that they have won it. You can expect more from them.''
Bhupathi's father, Krishna said, ``as far as we are concerned it is vindication of hard work for over two decades. It is the greatest achievement for sporting in India.''
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.