Age is about how you feel: Leander Paes

Most celebrities permit themselves to be interviewed with several riders. Having the experience of being snubbed by few such celebritries in the past, I was a bit apprehensive of getting an interview with Leander Paes, especially over the phone. Unrealistic target, I had thought to myself when my boss asked me to reach him when he won the Australian Open doubles title.

But on Tuesday, my dream target came alive. I actually got the oppurtunity to speak with Leander Paes, the only Indian to win a career grand slam. I was in disbelief of his simplicity. I had heard from other sports scribes that Paes is very humble and responds to calls but his humility took me by surprise. It’s perhaps this quality in him that makes him a great achiever.

My first memory of Paes was when he won the bronze medal during the Atlanta Olympics. I was hardly 10 but he had made an impact on me just like he did to millions in the country. It’s been over 15 years since the achievement but the zest with which Paes plays for the country has remained unchanged. His spirit and on-court energy is baffling at times.

At 38, how does he manage to do that when many his age would be busy contemplating on the best retirement schemes available in the market!

In a candid interview with Sportskeeda.com, the charismatic tennis star talks about his upcoming goal—a medal at the Olympics and also about the ‘age factor’ in a sportsperson’s career. Excerpts:

Nandini: There are few athletes world over who have defied age. While senior cricketers in the country Laxman, Dravid and even Sachin Tendulkar have been at receiving end, you somehow continue to surprise many…

Paes: Look, age is really about how you feel. If you lead a bad lifestyle and engage in unhealthy habits then you age fast. It’s all about keeping your body and mind fresh and this I learnt from Martina Navratilova. I partenered her when she was 49-50 (in 2003 Wimbledon). She taught me that it’s about your lifestyle and most importantly a healthy state of being.  I don’t really bother much about age or what people think. I really can’t speak for others but as long as you have something to chase, a reason to do something and have enough passion for it, you would succeed. People are talking about the age factor involved in Sachin, Laxman and Dravid’s performance. But I choose to respect people who work hard and have done nice things in life. So, I respect them a lot.

Nandini: Your parents are perhaps your greatest role models. Growing up, did you always want to emulate their success?

Paes: Yes, my mum has captained India in basketball and my dad was a part of the hockey team that won a bronze in the 1972 Olympics. They have been a huge motivation in my life and I had specific goals and knew what I wanted to chase in my life. No matter what field I would have chosen, my aim was to excel in it.

Nandini: What is your mantra to being hyper energetic? Is there anything specific you do in your daily schedule?

Paes: Firstly, I have a very clean lifestyle. I don’t drink or smoke. I practice something called Ujaya, a form of breathing exercise that helps provide maximum oxygen supply to your muscles. Over the years this has helped me keep my mind relaxed and also adds to my longevity. I also have a young and energetic team with whom I train and they push me to bring out my best.

Nandini: Today, you have a career grand slam. A greatest feat for an indian. It’s a cliched question but what’s it like to have won the Australian Open?

Paes: I go into every Grand Slam aiming to reach the final. I had a tough outing at the US Open last year. I got injured during the match and had to pull out in the semis of mixed doubles. I had lost in the quarters of men’s doubles. I trained really hard in October, November and December to get fit again and it has worked out well. In three weeks, I won two tournaments and reached the quarterfinals of the other. The trophies I have won speak of 30 years of hard work and perseverance. The euphoria of winning a grand slam or an Olympic medal lasts for 24 hours. But the journey to get there takes a lifetime. So I have always enjoyed the journey.

Nandini: The Australian Open title had sort of eluded you for a long time. This time, you and your partner made it seem like cakewalk against Bryan Brothers. Was there anything different you did this time in your preparations?

Paes: One of the biggest reasons to win was finding a great partner. I think I have had this gift of choosing great partners. Radek (Stepanek) is very hard working player. We had to brush up his tennis skills and he did that in 21 days. We beat the number 1, 2 and 3 pairs in one week and that’s quite amazing, I feel. The way we won against Bryan brothers was not surprising. We had played them a week before in Sydney, which was really important because I needed Radek to know how to play against them. We had lost 7-6 7-6; a tight match. In fact, it turned on one point we lost a serve at 5-5 in second set tiebreak. That changed the match. We made sure that point was the blue print for how we played them.

Nandini: Your next big outing is going to be the Olympics. Realistically speaking, can we expect a medal?

Yes, my next big target is the Olympics. It will be important for me to stay injury free. I am playing great tennis at the  moment so I am not worried but it’s going to be very important for me to choose the tournaments I play in the run up to the games.

Nandini: Have you thought of who you will partner for the Olympics?

Paes: Look, selection is something that I really don’t get into. It is for the All India Tennis Association to look after and I am sure they will do a great job with it.