Hesh and I are good friends: Paes

Melbourne, Jan 19: Leander Paes, India's never-give-up tennis star, said he hopes to work well under the captaincy of his former doubles partner Mahesh Bhupathi since "we are good friends".

"I don't forsee any problem. I will remain calm and collected," he told IANS a few hours after he lost in the first round of the doubles event at the Australian Open in three sets.

Bhupathi has been appointed captain of the Davis Cup team and he will take over from And Amritraj after the India-New Zealand match in Pune in the first week of February.

Paes was chosen for this tie ahead of Rohan Bopan, who is known to be a Bhupathi camper. Chances of Bopan's comeback to the team are high under Bhupathi and, in this scerio, Leander will have to be dropped from the team. Rohan is unlikely to partner Paes in any match in the future.

Paes gave no indication of slowing down and said that he worked especially hard in preparation for this year. "I have a good team, trainer, coach and my father. No one sees the hard work I put in. I know what it takes to survive at this level," he said.

He hopes to play the entire year with his Brazilian partner but nothing long-term has been decided and they will take it one event at a time, he said.

His mixed-doubles partnership with Marti Hingis is going strong and Leander hopes for a top-level finish at the Australian Open. IANS