Leander not giving up, working harder with an aim for top 20

Bengaluru, August 20: Leander Paes has been omitted yet again from Davis Cup squad for India's forthcoming World Group Play-off tie against Canada in September.

The key reason behind his omission according to non-playing captain Mahesh Bhupati and All India Tennis Association (AITA) is his poor doubles ranking. But one should not conclude with the poor doubles ranking (currently ranked 59th) Paes seems to have said good bye to Davis Cup!

His father, mentor and also the man who plans Leander's physical fitness programme every alternative month Dr Vaes Paes is saying that there is no chance of giving up by Leander, even at the age of 44 years!

Dr Paes the Olympian hockey star was speaking recently on the issue and he did not have any regret for his son's omission from the Davis Cup where Leander is on the brink of creating history by winning maximum number of doubles matches.

Vaes Paes clarified that the AITA has taken correct decision on the basis of the players' current ranking. But at the same time Dr Paes informed, Leander has again set his aim and that is to get into within the top 20 in the world's doubles ranking by the end of this year!

Dr Paes said, "In a bid to uplift his doubles ranking Leander is giving more time to training nowadays. I have talks with him almost every day over phone. He is more time to make himself fit also."

But at the same time, Leander has reportedly changed his style of training. If there is no competition, Leander's training consists of mainly playing a lot of practice matches in Orlando where he lives now.

Simultaneously, in his fitness training, Leander nowadays goes through specific exercises of knee joints, leg muscles and exercises on shoulders.

Along with this the 18 Grand Slam winners in the doubles does a lot of swimming to make him fit. In addition, Leander also maintains the diet nowadays, leaving all his favorite dishes.