Vets praise Lee’s amazing recovery

‘‘Amazing recovery,’’ was how Jaideep Mukherjea described it and went on to add, ‘‘the way Lee played never, for once, gave anybody the impression that he was out of action for so long.’’ Former India player and coach, and Leander’s Davis Cup mate during the initial part of his career, Ramesh Krishnan said that it is ‘‘Leander’s tremendous fighting ability that has helped him come back to the court.’’

The highlight of the match against Chris Haggard of South Africa and Emilie Loit of France, for Kumar, was during the second set tie-breaker. ‘‘In a pressure situation like that it takes nerves of steel to serve and return well and particularly for someone who was playing his second competitive match and that too in a Grand Slam event. He did brilliantly.’’

For all these former players, Leander’s return was based on choice, which in no way could be called ‘‘too early or too late’’. ‘‘He had no choice, but to wait till he had the confidence in him to get back,’’ says Ramanathan Krishnan. ‘‘I would say Leander has got back on track quite quickly. Injuries or sickness leaves one wrecked. I feel very happy for him.

Dr. Vece Paes — in Nepal right now — said, ‘‘Thank god his illness is in the past. It’s a fresh beginning for him.”