Bangalore: Australian Open mixed doubles champion Leander Paes is back home. Leander touched down in Bangalore on Tuesday after his 11th grand slam win. Leander will be in Bangalore for a few days and will spend time at Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's Art of Living ashram.
The past one year has been an incredible one for him. He won the men's doubles at the French and the US Open last year, and now the mixed title at the Australian Open. What more, he and Cara Black had lost in the finals at Wimbledon and the US Open. He spoke about all that and more in an exclusive interview with CNN-IBN shortly after arriving back home.
Leander Paes: I'm very passionate about my tennis. I see it as a great responsibility to go out there and play for not only myself but also for my country. To perform in Australia is something that I have been doing for many years. I've had some wonderful tennis coaches from Australia - Tony Roach, Bob Carmichael - they have really looked after me over the years and kept my passion. So Australia is definitely one of my favourite grounds to perform on.
CNN-IBN: You had a really tough tournament with tough matches. How do you feel to come through it?
Leander Paes: The semi-finals in the mixed doubles was really where I think we turned the corner to win the event. We played against Wesley Moody and one of my ex-partners, Lisa Raymond, who I have won Wimbledon with before. As much as the finals got a bit tricky in the first set, I think the semi-finals was really where we won it. For myself, I have to give big kudos to my partner Cara Black.
CNN-IBN: Eleven more months to go for the rest of 2010. What are the challenges you have set for yourself?
Leander Paes: It's just the beginning of the year. The tennis calendar starts in January and it goes right up till November. So for me, having won the Grand Slam of the year is a stepping stone for the year to come.
I find the French Open doubles, which I have won three times already and I'm the reigning champion with Lucas Dlouhy, and the US Open where I performed well in the last two years and made both the finals there, those are the things that really challenge me.
To make both the men's and mixed doubles finals is really a challenge. To get to the finals of both events in the same tournament is a challenge of physical and mental prowess. Something like that is something I try and do.
CNN-IBN: It seems to be a packed calendar for you ahead.
Leander Paes: Yes. It's a long year ahead for me. I like to take it a step at a time. The next goal is the Davis Cup in March in Russia. That's something I'm looking forward to as the team has done really well to get into the World Group. As tough as the tie is going to be, it's something that I always look forward to.
The next one is the French Open. It's quite unique as I was on a flight where one of the passengers came up and asked, 'Do you realise you are the reigning Australian Open mixed doubles, French Open, US Open champion?' It didn't quite register to me but it's quite a unique distinction. It's a lot of fun.
CNN-IBN: How do you motivate yourself?
Leander Paes: Motivation is really easy when you have passion. It's about doing the right things through the year. It's a long year and to keep the body fit, to keep the body injury free is really the essence. For me the passion or the mental prowess is something that comes naturally. I'm very passionate about my tennis and I enjoy it.
CNN-IBN: The Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games. Do you think partnering Mahesh Bhupathi would be the best choice that India have to win a gold medal?
Leander Paes: Yes. I think if both of us are fit and healthy, definitely our experience to the fore. The fact that we have played for so many years also comes through. It's just a matter of making sure that we're fit and healthy coming into each event.
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