Paes wants to sort out issues with Bhupathi

New Delhi: Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi are among India's brightest hopes for a medal at the Beijing Olympics. But the duo know that preparation will be key for the event. In an exclusive interview with CNN-IBN's Rupha Ramani, Paes said he was willing to sit down with Bhupathi and resolve all issues.

Leander Paes: I really look forward to the Beijing Olympics. In doubles tennis we have a great shot of winning an Olympic medal. Both Mahesh and myself have a lot of experience in the Olympics. I think with the memories from Athens, I'm really going to put my best foot forward and go out there to covet a doubles medal for India.

Rupha Ramani: The AITA obviously said that they would like to see both of you playing together more often in the lead up to the Olympics. Would we see that happening?

Leander Paes: We have played together for eight long years, which were great fun. With Mahesh and my partnership, we've got that clue. It's not going to make a huge difference whether we play events together before or we don't play events before. I would like to go to Beijing as fast as we can to prepare for the Olympics, and I'm definitely going to extend my communication to Mahesh. I know that's been part of an issue being brought up.

When I get back on to the Tour for the clay-court season, be at Monte Carlo or Barcelona or Rome, wherever we are playing together, I would make the first effort to extend my hand to him saying that this is an effort to sit and communicate about how we are going to prepare for the Olympics, so that we are both on the same page as to what's going to happen.

Rupha Ramani: Mahesh also said he would like to clear out every other issue before getting there. Is that also on the top of your mind too?

Leander Paes: Like I said, I definitely extend my hand in communication to sit down with him and say 'bring up all we have to talk about.' I have no problems with that.

Rupha Ramani: Would you see India qualifying for the World Group?

Leander Paes: Once the draw comes out, preparing my whole team as a captain, and at the same time as an individual athlete to make sure I'm ready for both singles and doubles.

Rupha Ramani: The AITA has said that you would probably be captain for another year, which would mean captaining in the play-offs as well, and the World Group, if India goes through. How do you respond to that and have they communicated that to you?

Leander Paes: As far as the captaincy goes, those are things that you would have to speak with the AITA directly. As far as I'm concerned, I love representing my country, I've done it for 18 years. The role that I play to represent the country may vary.

Rupha Ramani: Playing and captaining; with so many things going in your head, do you enjoy that?

Leander Paes: I love the responsibility of being a captain. I love the responsibility of being a singles and doubles player. Whether it's me or whether it's anybody in the team, I feel that the best man for the job will be put ahead. And as far as the captaincy goes, I think that is the AITA's decision, and I'm very happy to follow any decision the AITA makes.

Rupha Ramani: Tell us a bit about the 'Magic Racquet'. That must be interesting.

Leander Paes: Magic Racquet is something that has been in the works for a while. I'm very pleased to be working with Maya Entertainment. It's been a wonderful journey learning about what really captures a child's mind, what the medium of animation is all about. Ayana is a little too young at the moment to realise, but she was the inspiration to Magic Racquet for sure.

Rupha Ramani: So there are no thoughts of hanging up the racquet anytime soon.

Leander Paes: It's called Magic Racquet. You don't quite hang it up quite yet (laughs).

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