Paes said his job in this tie is to nurture the next generation and he indeed is “leading by example”.
“I was first on the court and last to leave. I hope kids on the team saw that. My volley is not bad but I am still working on that with my coach. The drill I generate, hitting down the line, backhand, cross-court. More than the talk, it’s action.”
Paes also made it clear that the young players such as Sumit Nagal, need to learn and move to the next level fast.
“Can Sumit Nagal after winning junior Wimbledon, spend three days with me and absorb a few things. Before the next tie, he needs to improve. If we are working on the same thing in February too then…Davis Cup is a learning curve,” he said.
Asked who he would like to play doubles with — Nagal or Myneni — Paes said he won’t make any preferences.
“I am ready for anybody. I have played through nine generations of players and hence whoever they put me with, I am ready. It does not matter. My job is to nurture the young players,” he said.
Paes also made it clear that the next generation players need to push him out of the team and earn their place.
“Let the juniors come up and surpass me, and say Lee you don’t have a spot, I will sit down. Part of my responsibility is to pass on the knowledge. I push them like hell. I am still beating them in games, what’s going on. That’s a practice and not match.
Sourced from PTI, Featured image courtesy: rafaelnadalfans.com
