Hyderabad high on Fab Four

The City’s biggest match in terms of profile was lapped up by select spectators at the Sania Mirza Tennis Academy on the outskirts on a thrilling Thursday evening. For the record, Sania/Leander beat Bhupathi/Navratilova in straight sets 6-2, 7-6 (3) but to risk a cliché, the game was indeed the winner with the players serving up scintillating stuff much to the delight of the delirious crowd.

The event was part of the build-up to the International Premier Tennis League, an Asian franchise-based event run by Mahesh Bhupathi. Sania was elated to play in front of the home crowd. “It feels great to have these legends playing in Hyderabad. Good to be here with the tennis enthusiasts who are my extended family,” she said. The local girl was undoubtedly the star as she came up with stinging forehands and pulled off astonishing retrieves to get the crowd going. With the tempo rising, Navratilova even complimented Sania with a “great forehand” on one occasion.

On another, the Hyderabadi had the tennis legend literally on her knees with a ruthless return. The 59-year-old Navratilova too had the crowd in raptures with some deft placements. Jocularly, she even demonstrated her ability to go the distance by getting down on the court to do quick push-ups in the middle of the match that drove the spectators wild.

Paes was precision personified. As is his wont, he kept lunging about to keep the ball in play while on the backfoot before drilling holes in the rival court with piercing shots.

For his part, Bhupathi at times summoned his brute power to bombard the other side of the net with a barrage of attacks. Pleasant smiles were exchanged at the end of each point though. The Power of Four was on ample display during a rapid-fire rally wherein the ball was punished by all the players. It ended in smashing winner from Sania that got her team a 5-2 lead in the first set as thunderous applause rent the air.

Paes was all praise for the facilities at the SMTA. “It’s wonderful to be here. It’s such a nice, fast and quick court to play on,” India’s only six-time Olympian said. “This will go a long way in polishing talent. I would like to see the youngsters come up and play tennis in the country,” he added. Then came that oft-repeated question about India’s mixed doubles combination at next year’s Rio Olympics. When suggested it could be a final between Leander-Sania and Federer-Hingis (from Switzerland), Paes quipped: “If it comes to that, we will get the gold,” to cacophonic cheers.

Navratilova too threw her weight behind the pair. “If I were to pick a partner for the Olympics, it has to be Leander,” she said. Asked what keeps her going, Navratilova, who has 59 Grand Slam titles to match her age, replied: “Life. It’s a gift and I am very lucky, thankful and humble about the opportunities I have had.” Paes pitched in. “Anytime you get a chance to play with a legend like Martina, it’s great. She has a history with tennis and I am very lucky to have played alongside her,” he said of the player who has been No.1 in women’s singles as well as doubles for more than 200 weeks. Bhupathi, who founded the IPTL, was confident it would boost the game in the region and said “everyone is looking forward to it.” It’s boom time for sure.