New Delhi: Sania Mirza said on Monday that the bitter London Olympics tennis selection row created bad blood among the players and also strained her relationship with Mahesh Bhupathi but she has left it behind to focus on winning a medal in mixed doubles with Leander Paes.
Paes was forced to pair with lower-ranked Vishnu Vardhan in men’s doubles after both Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna refused to play with him. He was paired with Sania Mirza in mixed doubles as a compromise.
“It created bad blood among us and that is very unfortunate. I am happy that it is over and I can now concentrate on doing well in the Olympics with Leander and win a medal,” she said.
“Let us move forward and focus on winning a medal. Leander reached the final at the Wimbledon and that is the positive thing. I and Mahesh lost and that was unfortunate,” she said. She and Bhupathi were knocked out in the second round at the All England Club.
Sania said that the selection row also strained her relationship with Bhupathi.
“It was difficult to block the controversy from my mind and it was disturbing me. The situation did not arise because of what I said. Mahesh and I have been very good friends but the controversy did strain our friendship,” she said.
Sania said that she had preferred to play with Bhupathi in mixed doubles, but she has a good shot at a medal with Paes, too.
“I am a forehand player and Mahesh a backhand player, so I had preferences,” she said before adding that she is ready to partner anyone for her country.
“Leander is a very good player and long time friend… It’s an honour to be playing with him. I am in good form, won French Open (with Bhupathi). He (Paes) reached the final of Wimbledon and so he is also in great form. We can have a very good shot for a medal,” she told a TV channel.
Sania has won medals in the Commonwealth and Asian Games and the Afro-Asian Games also, and she said she now wants an Olympic medal in her cupboard.
Asked when she is going to practice with Paes before the Olympics, Sania said, “I have not heard or met Leander [while at Wimbledon].” The team is expected to be in London by 23 July.
“I will be going to the United States and play in San Diego. From there I will be in London and after July 23 I think I can start practice with Leander.”
Sania disagreed with the perception that winning a medal in the mixed doubles will be comparatively easier as it will be a 16-team draw.
“I think it is wrong [to think] that mixed doubles will be easy. The draw is very tough, the best pairs in the world are in the draw and it won’t be easy to win the matches,” she said. (PTI)