LEANDER PAES:DEFYING AGE

By winning  the US Open Doubles Title for  a record third time, at the age of 40,Leander Paes has rightly proved that age is just a number.Paes along with his doubles partner Radek Stapneak defeated the second seeded pair of  Alexander Peya & Bruno Soares in the finals to clinch the US Open.Leander & Stapneak played great tennis throughout the tournament,even defeating the deadly duo of Mike & Bob Bryan in the semis.In a career spanning well over two decades in the International Circuit,Leander Paes has widely been considered as one of the greatest doubles/mixed doubles player ever to play the game of tennis.For people who truly aren't aware about his heroics, he has also won a Bronze Medal for India at the 1996 Olympics held in Atlanta.He won the bronze medal in a singles match, quite suprising as he is generally a very good doubles/mixed doubles player than in the singles..Among the 14 Grand Slam titles that he has won,8 have been won by him in doubles competition & 6 in mixed doubles.He also won his sole ATP singles title at Newport.Besides he has given many legendary performances in Davis Cup ties for India.His career was also highlighted by beating the then reigning tennis champion and all time great Pete Samprass in staright sets 6-3,6-4 at New Haven ATP.Paes has also won 53 ATP Career titles,making him one of the most successful doubles player ever.He has been the only tennis player ever to play in six olympics.He has already won the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award,India's highest sporting honour besides he was also awarded the Arjuna Award & the coveted Padma Shri.It has been  an illustrious career to say the least for Paes,yes he lost quite some finals but he won many too.He put India on centrestage when it came to tennis.It was after when the likes, legends Ramesh Krishnan & Vijay Amritraj retired,it took some time & bang Leander Paes stormed on the scene.Paes had his share of controversies though,his infamous feud with fellow compatriot & doubles partner Mahesh Bhupathi.Paes & Bhupathi were a deadly duo who won 3 grand slam doubles title together,besides being runner-up in 3 slams.Both had a public spat,their feud was known to everyone.things became quite ugly with both of them hitting out at each other in the media.The famous "Indian Express" that had an impressive 303-103 win loss record went their seperate ways.For reasons best known to them they split & it actually robbed them of winning many more grand slam titles together.Though they went on to play together again in Davis Cup & Olympics for the sake of the nation,but it wasn't their best stuff together..Apart from his feud with Bhupathi,Paes has enjoyed a very clean & successful career.Playing tennis when one is 40 is difficult but what is  even more difficult & great is winning at the age of 40.His fitness levels & enthusiasm have left everyone spellbound.Kudos to Leander,the guy has always given his heart out whenever he plays,a thorough champion & a wonderful mascot for India.Leander Paes by all means is a champion and one of a kind athlete,no wonder he is defying age.