AFP/Jacques Demarthonview photoPARIS (AFP) - India's Leander Paes celebrated a ninth Grand Slam doubles title before thanking former playing partner and 20-time Wimbledon champion Martina Navratilova for boosting his career.
Paes teamed with Lukas Dlouhy of the Czech Republic to capture the French Open title with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 win over Wesley Moodie of South Africa and Belgium's Dick Norman.
AFP/Jacques Demarthonview photoIt was 35-year-old Paes's fifth men's Grand Slam men's doubles title having won twice here in 1999 and 2001 with compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi, 1999 Wimbledon with Bhupathi and the 2006 US Open with Martin Damm.
He has also won four Grand Slam mixed doubles titles, including the 2003 Wimbledon and Australian Open trophies with Navratilova.
"Martina has been a soulmate for many years. We've been through a lot in life, especially me in the last eight years. She's been along with me, supporting me, guiding me at times," said Paes.
"When I was diagnosed with cancer and I couldn't play, she basically stayed away from the game and didn't play mixed doubles until I came back."
"Whenever I look at a person like Navratilova, she gives me a lot of inspiration. It was strange that just at the end of the second set when we were getting a bit nervous and a bit edgy, she came out there and was just making eye contact.
"Lukas served three doubles faults early in the third set. I told him at one point, Martina is out there. Come on. Have a look at her. She's inspiring us."
Paes also paid tribute to their opponents.
Norman, at 38, would have been one of the oldest major title winners had he succeeded.
"Dick and Wesley served really huge and made it difficult for us. They did a great job in getting to the final," said Paes who has now won 40 career doubles titles.
Paes and Dlouhy first teamed up at Roland Garros last year, losing in the last 16 to eventual champions Pablo Cuevas and Luis Horna.
They then finished runners-up to Mike and Bob Bryan in the 2008 US Open final.
"We started playing together at Roland Garros last year. We lost then to the champions so we made it a point that we would come back and try and win it this year," added Paes.
Comment 1 - 8 of 8
Hey! Lee! unfortunately I was not able to watch your mixed doubles finals yesterday!
came to know that you have lost it....shocked! i was highly expecting......anyways....!
everyone cannot win every time! wish you all the best for the forthcoming matches!
this is to you Leander!
I had been a crazy fan of you for the past 10 yrs and will be in the forth coming years too! oh my goodness! where does your strength come from?
you are my inspiration always! i felt so happy when you went to Martina after your victory, its really great of you both and on reading this article iam stunned!
i wish you all success and perfect health all the way through!
many congratulations on your French open title and advance congratulations for your future championships......kindly do not even think about your retirement from tennis until atleast 50, this is my humble request and may be my selfishness that i like to watch you playing "live" on TV ....! ...always....!
wishing you all the best
best regards
gayathiri
robertxxx111 people like you just are born to gain some extra attention without any knowledge of themselves.
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BREAKING NEWS...
FEDERER: GREATEST "CRYING" TENNIS CHAMPION OF ALL TIME
to all of you who replied to my message,don’t be hurt about your idol,I am not a fan of anybody. you do not understand what i mean, i am not talking about myself, i am talking about federer who is a disgrace to the tennis world, i am not talking about his achievements,i am talking about his attitude as a tennis player,no etiquette,cry baby,sore loser,do you know what i mean.if you too is a tennis player,you will know what i mean...
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THIS IS FOR YOU FEDERER: Now, you can cry again.You are a DISGRACE TO THE TENNIS WORLD AND THE WHOLE OF SPORTS,no one in the tennis world or any sports has ever cried like you always do.You are a SORE LOSER and CONCEITED.
Since you become number 2,you never stop your mouth saying your achievements, that you are like this,that you are like that,wait for others to say that for you. Shut up,BE MAN ENOUGH TO ACCEPT LOSING.
In tennis standard,YOU ARE NOT EVEN AT THE LEVEL OF ALL THE TENNIS GREATS (laver,newcombe,nastase,borg,lendl,connors,mc enroe,sampras,agassi,nadal and the many more that will come after them),YOU ARE WAY WAY BELOW THEM,ROCK BOTTOM AND YOU CANNOT EVEN BE CONSIDERED GREAT because all of them are true sportsman who never brag of their achievements even though they are great.
Not like you, the soreness of your feeling can be felt whenever you lose, YOU CANNOT ACCEPT DEFEAT SO YOU YOURSELF MUST PRAISE YOURSELF,WHY NOT WAIT FOR OTHERS TO PRAISE YOU.
YOU ARE A DISGRACE TO THE TENNIS WORLD AND SPORTS.
(I am also a tennis player that is why I can tell this to you, tennis etiquette,honor & humility are important in the tennis world which you do not have,look at yourself in the mirror @ u know what
Shame on you robertxxxx111,u simply cant stand great achiever like Roger.U are a disgrace to your mother,father,sister,brother,&family ,dats if u even have one cos i feel u may as well be a @#$%.
Robertxxx111.,u are as stupid as the goat in my backyard and as daft as a sheep! u dont have anythingelse to
post here,u'll be shamed today wen Roger will lift that Roland Garros trophy and afterwards proceed to wembledon to also conquer. You said u are a tennis player,wot hav u achieved? You're not any tennis player
i doubt if you can even handle a racket,u dont even have a life and so cannot handle anything.U're simply a
zombie and a vampire seekin blood to suck but u wont succeed,u'll end up sucking ur own blood,drinking ur
own urine and eating ur own @#$%!
Shame on you robertxxxx111,u simply cant stand great achiever like Roger.U are a disgrace to your mother,father,sister,brother,&family ,dats if u even have one cos i feel u may as well be a @#$%.
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