Their match began with love-all, but ended with a double-fault

Their match began with love-all, but ended with a double-fault
KADAMBARI MURALI

NEW DELHI, MAY 15: When things were going right, their unique on-court chest-butting was not only a display of high passion, but one of trust and camaraderie. And now, when nothing seems to be going right for Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi, that same passion seems to have been transferred into going for each other's jugular.

In the whodunit fast turning into a why-he-dunit, there is one more twist -- the role of the fathers, who ironically had brought them together the last time the duo had a problem. Reacting to Leander's comments to a TV channel confirming that he would not be playing with Mahesh this year, with the possible exception of the Davis Cup and Olympics, Mahesh said that the whole thing had just got out of hand.

He blamed the two fathers -- Dr Vece Paes and C G K Bhupathi -- and Leander for the escalation of what is fast turning into a real messy affair, with allegations and counter-allegations. Talking to The Indian Express from Hamburg, where he is partnering Mark Knowles of Bahamas in the Masters series this week, Mahesh said: ``To be honest, this whole thing has been blown out of proportion by our fathers and, I guess, by Leander. We obviously don't want to play with each other right now, so that's the way it's going to be, Rico or no Rico.''

Mahesh was also reacting to Leander's statements on TV saying that Mahesh'scoach and companion Enrico Piperno was the villain of the piece and the main reason India's wonderboys would not partner each other -- this year, at least.

Piperno, curiously, has also been Leander's coach. That was in 1991. Says Dr Paes: ``Rico is a very sociable guy and we meet socially, but professionally, Leander feels he has no credibility or discretion.'' And then added that after one year with Leander, his (Rico's) ``services were discontinued''.

Mahesh, reacting to Leander's allegation that Rico had bad-mouthed him (Leander) and his coach Bob Carmichael, said, ``It was hard to believe. We have all always got along and have always had a high degree of respect for Bob, so this is news to me.''

Obviously unhappy with all the allegations, he hinted that Piperno might not be with him much longer. He said, ``If Rico leaves me tomorrow, and believe me it is coming pretty close to it since there is only a certain amount a person can take, I will still probably continue playing with other partners. As far as Lee goes, we don't respect or trust each other right now and till that finds its way back, there is no hope for a relationship.''

Mahesh was talking much in the same vein as Leander, who said yesterday that there was no trust between the two and ``till the air was cleared'' they could not play together.

Leander also said that if he wanted to make the year-end World Doubles championship with current Dutch partner Jan Siemrink -- with whom he has won two titles (in Bermuda and Orlando) in the past few weeks -- he would have to give him a commitment for the Grand Slams. Said Mahesh, ``As far as I am concerned, I always had the feeling that he had no intention of playing with me this year and by saying he wanted to commit to Siemrink this year, he has proved that.''

As things stand today, the only hope the Indian fans have of seeing the two on the same side of the court, is in the Davis Cup and Olympics, and maybe a few warm-up events in the run-up to the Sydney Games. Otherwise, it will remain just another heartbreaking story in sport.

Five characters and a drama

NEW DELHI:The Paes-Bhupathi tennis drama has five major characters. A brief bit on them:

LEANDER PAES: Former world junior Wimbledon champ and a brilliant Davis Cupper. Was World No.1 in doubles in 1999.

MAHESH BHUPATHI: First Indian to win a Grand Slam title -- mixed doubles title with Japanese Rika Hiraki in 1997. Was ranked World No. 1 for a while, but ended the year ranked World No.2 in doubles behind Leander in 1999.

VECE PAES: Leander's father and a former hockey international. Now runs a sports management company with his son as his major client.

C G K BHUPATHI: Mahesh's father and a former tennis player, who nearly played for India, gave up a job in India to go to Muscat to earn more to give son's tennis career a chance. Sent his son to the US and now runs a tennis coaching centre in Bangalore.

ENRICO PIPERNO: Former national-level player, who did not quite make it big. An affable person from Calcutta, from where the Paes family comes. He trained Leander from January 1 to December 31, 1991, before parting ways in a none-too-pleasant manner. But nevertheless, his son was Leander's `godson' in 1997. Now Mahesh's travelling coach.