How Lee-Hesh lost the torch

No one really knows what happened during that summer of 1999 when the “Indian Express” of world tennis was split down the middle despite making the finals of all the four Grand Slams. At the US Open that year, the division was clearly visible. After winning a match, Leander and Mahesh would walk away in different directions with their separate entourages in tow. Someone from Leander’s group would politely say “well played” to Mahesh, and vice versa. Two players who had roamed the world together, partied together, won together, and shared the greatest joys and biggest disappointments of their professional lives on the same tennis court, were now just doubles partners and no longer buddies .

Some said Mahesh was feeling slighted that Leander patronised him as a player he had created, some others that Leander was hurt because Mahesh no longer acknowledged his contribution in selecting him as his doubles partner, and still some others that it was a combination of both factors that had led to a clash of egos.

The following year, they officially parted ways.

Through most of their estrangement, the two at least maintained a dignified silence and came together unconditionally to represent India. But, once the floodgates opened with Leander’s comments about Mahesh’s attitude following the Asian Games in Doha 18 months ago, it’s become a question of who will have the last word. And the blows — not just to them but also to Indian tennis — just keep on coming.

The last three months in their battle of one-upmanship have been especially hectic: a revolt after a Davis Cup tie by Mahesh and his wards, a statement by Leander on the eve of the next assignment that playing doubles with Mahesh was the worst decision of his career, and yesterday, Mahesh’s unwillingness to partner him in Beijing.

The latest event should have been predicted a while ago. It was perhaps the next logical step once public displays of aversion had become the norm in their dealings with each other.

The All-India Tennis Association (AITA) has been left scrabbling for words once again. Its secretary, Anil Khanna, said he would ensure Mahesh sees reason and that only the “best team” will travel to the Olympics to represent India. But, for a body that has been criticised for never really trying to sort out the problem across the table, dealing with it only when things got completely out of hand, the latest remark is more a hope than a statement of intent.

“Leander and I are the best option for India but we need to go with some kind of preparation. We need to build a team. It’s been over five weeks since I spoke to the AITA. It’s not about past performances. Rohan Bopanna and I are better prepared as a team,” Mahesh said yesterday. Despite it sounding like a valid argument, it’s hard to take Mahesh’s opinion at face value because of all that has gone on in the run-up to the statement. There are chances that it’s his frustration talking rather than his sudden faith in Bopanna.

If Mahesh and Leander don’t end up playing together at the Olympics, India will perhaps have lost their last, slim chance to win that elusive tennis gold, which was expected of them in the last two Games as well.

The Olympic movement is not just about individual glory. The players are part of an Indian contingent, which includes boxers, shooters, runners, swimmers and so on. Mahesh is free to pick and choose who he wants to play with on the ATP tour, but he must realise that at the Olympics the choice of partner is not his to make. Two hockey players, for example, can’t refuse to be on the same team because they don’t like each other. If personal antagonisms were allowed full play in team sport, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis could not have bowled together for Pakistan.

Leander has a singles bronze from the 1996 Atlanta Games but Mahesh’s yearning for Olympic silverware hasn’t been fulfilled. On court, the pair is still magical sometimes. Should Mahesh give the dream a shot, or throw it away because of their private off-court problems?

kunal.pradhan@expressindia.com