New Delhi: Veteran tennis players Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi are reportedly heading for another split, according to reports in a national daily.
After having parted ways for more than a decade, Paes and Bhupathi had reunited last year in a bid to win the Australian Open, the only Grand Slam title that has eluded them.
But according to the Hindustan Times, the two are looking to play with younger partners from the 2012 season. Bhupathi is set to be partnered with Davis Cup team-mate Rohan Bopanna, who has established himself as a top doubles player, after the ATP World Tour Finals that start in London on Sunday.
Paes and Bhupathi were this past week knocked out of the Paris Masters in the second round by Mexican Santiago Gonzalez and German Christopher Kas 6-3, 1-6, 0-1 (8-10). Bopanna, 31, and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi of Pakistan succeeded in winning their maiden ATP Masters tournament after whipping away the challenge of Julien Benneteau and Nicolas Mahut in straight sets in the final of the same tournament.
The rumours throw into question the make-up of India's Davis Cup campaign, as well as who will represent India in the London 2012 Olympics.
Amid the speculation, the All India Tennis Association has pleaded ignorance, saying players are free to choose their partners.
"I have not heard it from either Rohan or Mahesh. Let's see, but the players have the freedom to choose their partners to play in the circuit," Anil Khanna, AITA Secretary General told PTI.
Khanna said as far as the Davis Cup and Olympics were concerned, the AITA's selection committee would decide which pair will take field.
According to the International Olympic Committee and ITF rules, the top-10 players in the rankings get a direct entry and a direct entry player can choose any partner for the doubles event.
"At present, all three - Paes, Bhupathi and Rohan - are in top-10. Let's see what's the situation in June (when entries have to be sent for Olympics). We can actually send two pairs, but who that will be, will be decided by our selection committee," Khanna said.
Bhupathi, on his part, denied any split and said he and Paes will play in the season-ending finale in London from November 20.
"I am going to play with him in London. I have just come from Pune and have not read any report (about the split)."
Paes and Bhupathi had paired early this year after nine years. They are the most successful Indian tennis doubles players, with 23 Grand Slams between them.
In the year 1999, the duo reached the finals of all four Grand Slams, winning the Wimbledon and the French Open, thus becoming the first Indian pair to win a doubles event at a Grand Slam. Together they have won three Major trophies.
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