As 2019 ended, Leander Paes announced that he would be retiring from the sport by the end of 2020. When he took to the court at the Bengaluru Open, it was a given that this was his final appearance on home soil. No wonder then that the crowds poured in to watch him and they were left entertained.
Paes finished as runners-up and as he approaches 47, the intensity or fitness level has not gone down one bit. This begs the question, why is he retiring? He's playing well, and it really makes us wonder, should he call it a day.?
One person who certainly wants him to keep on playing is former doubles partner Mahesh Bhupathi.?
¡°He¡¯s playing well still. He made the final of Bengaluru Open. If he continues to play well for a few more months, may be he will play for another year. I think the way he¡¯s playing he should play as long as he can,¡± he told PTI.?
Of course he had no commitment on whether Paes could play the Olympics.?
¡°There are four five candidates in contention. We will have to wait and see till the cut off date," he said.?
The end of June is the deadline.?
But right now he is on top of his game and of course we do not want to see him go. But when it does happen, one hopes Paes can go off in a blaze of glory. ?