2 – Number of times Federer reached all four Grand Slam finals in the same year (2006-07)

3 – Australian Open titles won (2004, ’06-07) and three times he’s won three Slams in the same year

4 – Times (or more) reached final in each of the Grand Slam tournaments

5 – US Open titles won (2004-2008) and number of times Federer has lost to Nadal in Slam finals

6 – Wimbledon titles won (from seven consecutive finals)

7 – Consecutive years of winning at least one Grand Slam title

8 – Eight losses in his streak of 21 consecutive semi-final or better Grand Slam appearances

9 – Countries of opponents he’s beaten in Grand Slam finals (Australia, Chile, Cyprus, Great Britain, Russia, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, and U.S.)

10 – Record consecutive Grand Slam finals reached between 2005 Wimbledon and 2007 US Open

11 – Appearances at Roland Garros before winning first title (same as Andre Agassi) and number of different opponents he’s beaten in Grand Slam finals

12 – Titles won during his 2006 season, when he came within one match of completing a calendar-year Grand Slam

13 – Titles won in his streak of 20 consecutive semi-final or better Grand Slam appearances

14 – Ties Pete Sampras for the most Grand Slam singles titles in the history of men’s tennis

15 – New Grand Slam titles record

Any doubts anybody?

Sadly, the only match which they lost has brought the pair’s personal problems out in the open. Apparently, Leander questioned Mahesh about his ability & fitness to play for the country after the loss at the team event. As a captain, Leander might have done his duty but then questioning Mahesh’s commitment should have never come up. Mahesh has been a bright beacon for Indian tennis alongwith his compatriot Leander. If Leander thinks that by being the captain he gets the right to question Mahesh’s commitment then he is wrong.

The other view could be that Mahesh has taken offence at what was a simple question by the captain and the coach. It is only obvious that they do some introspection after having lost a potential Gold medal chance. I, for one, was absolutely sure of four golds in tennis (Team event, men’s doubles, women’s singles and mixed doubles). We could manage only two in the end. But that’s fine. We have a bigger issue to deal with now.

Lee-Hesh, as they are popularly known, have had their problems. There were various instances when we heard that the pair is not going to pair-up for a particular event all of a sudden. We, Indian tennis followers, knew that not everything was hunky-dory as we wished it was. Slowly, the pair started teaming up with different partners and Mahesh starting winning more with different partners on the doubles tour. Paes had an indifferent career but he too did win something on the way here and there.

Today, Paes hogs headlines space saying “most successful male player ever“. Totally uncalled for. A paper like “The Hindu”, which I respect a lot, owes some responsibility to the country’s icons. We don’t need debates now about how great Mahesh is and how unfair it is to tag Leander with that title because he has won one medal more than Mahesh.

The men, under the lens, need to now sit and talk and really have a confessions session where they open up and talk. And if they want to get back is when they need to do all this. Otherwise, again before another mega event we will have mahesh’s phone ringing with fervent pleas from various people asking him to play for the country. And again after the event, we will have some nice stuff for the 24/7 TV channels to show and for me to write another blogpost! ;)

I hope they get back together. Signs are there. And fans like me have some hope left. Indian sport shall acheive more than just 10 Golds in the near future. Beijing is what we need to watch out for. Go India Go!