NEW DELHI, 31 January 2003 — Leander Paes, recovering from a brain lesion, yesterday opted out of the $400,000 ATP Indian Open to be played in Madras next week.
Paes told organizers he will not accept the wild card for the singles, nor team up with compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi in the doubles of the Jan. 5-11 season-opener.
“I was looking forward to play in the Indian Open, but now it looks like it will be the Australian Open that will herald my comeback,” Paes said in a release issued from his home in Orlando, Florida.
“I have already talked on this with Mahesh. I have been practicing hard for tournaments lined up in the season starting January next. I am disappointed to postpone my return and realize that it is a long and hard road back to the professional circuit.”
The 30-year-old, who was diagnosed with a brain lesion in August after complaining of severe headaches, had hoped to resume his playing career in his own country’s annual premier event.
Paes, one of the leading doubles players on the circuit, partnered Martina Navratilova to the mixed doubles title at Wimbledon this year to add to their mixed doubles title at the Australian Open in January.
