New Delhi: Upcoming Indian Davis Cupper Yuki Bhambri on Wednesday questioned Leander Paes' refusal to play with a lower-ranked player citing that even the veteran himself was a rookie when he was taken by Ramesh Krishnan under his wings during the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
"Leander should remember, in 1992, Ramesh Krishnan took him under his wings. Leander is 38-39 and it's time, he gives back to tennis," the 19-year-old Yuki told a news channel during an interview.
Paes has communicated to All Indian Tennis Association (AITA) that he is country's top-ranked player, and therefore so he is not ready to pair with a lower-ranked player just because Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna have both refused to team up with him.
The lower ranked players referred to it in his letter to AITA are Vishnu Vardhan (ranked 207th) and teenager Yuki (306th). But Yuki said that he has been playing in the circuit long enough and he by no means was "inexperienced".
"It's unfortunate, that there is a rift that nobody really wanted. First time, we have opportunity to send two doubles team to the Olympics and it's a great opportunity for someone like me. "Paes has cited about inexperience. But I just came back a couple of hours ago after playing on grass at the Wimbledon.
I have a wealth of experience...played alongside Carlos Moya in Chennai Open, so there is no question of inexperience," insisted Yuki. Stating that the tennis association and fraternity should show faith in the youngsters, Yuki said, "Not sure, what the players are afraid of. I had beaten world No 43 on clay in Davis Cup and Leander was there."
Yuki had won the USD 35,000 ATP Challenger title in Fergano, Uzbekistan last month to claim his maiden Challenger crown.
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