Days after pulling out of the Asian Games at the last minute due to the absence of a doubles specialist to partner him, Leander Paes will be playing on the ATP Circuit. His name was announced as a wildcard along with partner Jamie Cerretani in the doubles draw of Winston-Salem Open on Saturday.
The Winston-Salem Open is a ATP 250 tournament held in America ahead of the US Open. It begins on August 19, with Paes set to play his first match on Monday, August 20. He had last played at the Washington Open, another ATP 250 tournament, in the first week of August, missing both the Masters tournament after that.
The tennis event at the Asian Games begins on Sunday, August 19.
Paes and Cerretani will play third seed Ben McLachlan and Jan-Lennard Struff in their first round match.
On Thursday evening, Paes pulled out of the Asian Games, questioning why AITA didn’t field two specialist doubles teams.
“Despite my repeated requests, from so many weeks in advance, it is sad that we have not been able to put a doubles specialist in the team for a credible second doubles pairing for the Asian Games,” he was quoted as saying.
The 45-year-old was asked to team up with either Ramkumar Ramanathan or Sumit Nagal, both singles players, after AITA agreed to pair the country’s top doubles players Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharan in the men’s doubles, on their request.
While Ramkumar is primarily a singles player and plays doubles occasionally, Nagal is on a terrible losing streak, having nine straight first-round defeats on the Pro circuit, coming into the Asian Games.
The Indian had to miss many tournaments this season due to personal reasons and his ranking has accordingly dipped, needing wildcards to play on the circuit. However, he had made himself available for the Asian Games months in advance, picking it over the clashing US Open.
A veteran of eight medals at the continental event from 1998 to 2006, his decision to skip the Asiad at the 11th hour, when no replacements can be named, has been criticised by many in the Indian tennis community, including the All India Tennis Association.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!