Bopanna told the Indian Express newspaper on Monday that he will team up with veteran compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi in 2012, while Qureshi next partner Dutchman Jean-Julien Roger at the Australian Open in January.
“As the season has ended now, I can confirm that I am playing with Mahesh in 2012,” Bopanna said, declining to elaborate on the reason for parting ways with Qureshi after four years. “Who I want to play with is my decision … I did have a successful year with Aisam but now I am starting a new year with Mahesh, and it’s as simple as that.”
Bopanna was non-committal on whether the decision to change partners was due to the London 2012 Olympics. “As of now Mahesh and I have decided to start the year together,” he said. “The Olympics have a lot of other technicalities like form and rankings, and we will see how it goes.”
On the other hand, Aisam told the media that their prime decision of separation was to qualify for the Olympics, “We want to cement our places in the Olympic Games and have decided to play with new partners in the doubles.” Qureshi further stated ,“He has a good chance at doing well in the Olympics so he will practice with those two until then. I will concentrate on maintaining my rankings to qualify for the Olympics so that I can also take another Pakistani with me to the grand event.”
Earlier, Aisam returned home to a warm welcome from friends, fans and family members. Aisam became the first Pakistani to participate in the year end ATP Masters Championship, along with partner Rohan Bopanna. On his arrival,Aisam said that all his efforts are for the country and would keep the country’s flag flying high as long as he could.
Bopanna and Qureshi, who joined hands in an unlikely partnership in 2007, shot to fame when they reached the US Open doubles final last year and are currently ranked ninth in the world. The duo actively promoted better India-Pakistan ties and even offered to play tennis over the land border dividing the two countries, which have a history of warfare and political tension. Their biggest performance of the year, however, came at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Paris in early November.
GeoSuper