Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Paes: I have achieved everything; it's tough to set new goals

At 44, with 18 Grand Slam titles and an Olympic medal in his cupboard, Leander Paes is finding it "tough to set new goals" but still spent his off-season getting stronger to remain relevant in modern day tennis, which is being dominated by brute power.

Many of his contemporaries have become coaches and many of his juniors have already hung racquets but this Indian legend's hunger for tennis is far from satiated.


"For me the off-season is about skill, endurance, weights, core, back, reinventing my game because now the game has become physical. All these boys are 6'3", 6'5". They are so strong, that your reaction time becomes less because the ball is being hit so hard.

"Building power means that the serve can be powerful. The forehand can be stronger. You can come back with a new style of doubles. So, the off-season for me is more about physical fitness and also about setting new goals because I am finding it very tough to set new goals," Paes said.

The question of retirement keeps popping now and then with many wondering what keeps him going?

"Right now I am going through a beautiful part of my tennis career, where I don't need to prove anything. To be able to still control the ball to be still able to command the court, it still motivates me."

The legendary player hinted that he wants to develop into a role model.

"I enjoy the game. I have achieved everything, I wanted to. Now I am playing for myself. I want to motivate people around the world that if Leander can do something even through hard and tough times, If I can keep that health and fitness and happiness about my life, then everybody else can.

"We live in times, where life is very hard. There is terrorism everywhere, there is poverty, the cost of living is rising, lots of scams going on but you need good role models out there to show that life is tough but can be good too," he said.

When asked if he still wants to play one more Asian Games and the Olympics, he replied: "That does not push me.

I play, because I have fun. If that comes along, wonderful."

Paes said he indeed has become stronger, this year.

"I have done lot more weights. If you see, the strength in lower part of the body is very good and the way I served (in Pune), they (Rohan Bopanna and Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan) did not come close to my serve."

"I have also worked on trying to re-invent a certain style of play. It did not work in Pune but at the end of last year for three weeks, we were undefeated. It was at Challenger level and now have got to move it up at the ATP level."

It's been some months that he and Raja are playing together on the tour. They ended 2017 on a high by winning the Challenger titles in Knoxville and Champaign in the US.

Ask him about Raja and he praises his partner.

"He has made progress. Last match was not a good reflection of it but he has lost some weight. He has become smarter about his fitness, about his diet. To transform a body, it takes time. What is good about Purav is that he has got power. He is strong.

"I am encouraging him to play to his strengths. The movement is my strength. He did not hit the ball (against Bopanna-Jeevan). Last match was an awkward match, he did not play his best tennis."

It was also noticed that Ramkumar Ramanathan, one of India's best singles player these days, was spending a lot of time with Paes and his team.

Paes said for the Chennai boy to succeed at the highest level, he needs to work on the mental aspect of the game.

"Ram has got a phenomenal game. His serve is huge, his second serve is brilliant. Good inside out forehand, good backhand down the line...technically very sound.

"There's not much I can teach Ram about technique and strokes. It's hard to be a Pro on tour when you are 150. When you are top-100, you get into Grand Slams but to get there is important. So, when I see him at different places, we do training together. So it's a long-term friendship. I am not gaining anything out of it."

Asked why Ram has not been able to make a mark when he has everything right about his game, Paes said, "Time".

"He has to put it together. Stay calm and be peaceful and rise at big points. You need to conserve energy. You can't be playing high octane all the time. And it takes mental skills.

More For You

Can dairy disrupt your sleep

The authors acknowledged potential limitations in their findings

iStock

Can dairy disrupt your sleep? Study links certain foods to nightmares

Key points

  • 40% of participants in a new study said food affects their sleep
  • Dairy and sweets were linked to worse sleep and more disturbing dreams
  • Fruit, herbal tea and vegetables were associated with better sleep quality
  • Authors suggest that lactose intolerance may play a role in dream disturbance

A recent study has explored how food may influence sleep and dreaming, with some participants reporting that certain items — particularly dairy and sweets — disrupted their rest and contributed to nightmares.

Study looked at food, sleep and dreams

The research, published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology on Monday, analysed responses from 1,082 college-aged participants who completed online surveys between January and April 2023. The survey asked about over a dozen food categories, including dairy, meat, fruit, desserts, and spicy foods.

Keep ReadingShow less
Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas

Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas attended Day 3 of Wimbledon 2025

Instagram/nickjonas/Getty Images

Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas cosy up at Wimbledon 2025 after 'Heads of State' London screening

Quick highlights:

  • Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas attended day 3 of Wimbledon 2025 on 2 July, joining a host of celebrities at the iconic London event.
  • The couple were spotted smiling and sharing a rare PDA moment inside the exclusive Parkside Suite at No. 1 Court.
  • Priyanka also posed with John Cena, her co-star from Heads of State, which hit cinemas a day earlier on 1 July.
  • Their London appearance comes after a private date night and screening for the Amazon Prime Video action-thriller.

Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra and musician Nick Jonas made a striking appearance at Wimbledon 2025 on Tuesday, 2 July, as they joined a string of celebrities on day 3 of the world-famous tennis tournament. The couple turned heads in coordinated outfits and shared a rare display of affection while seated in the elite Parkside Suite at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.

Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas photographed at the Wimbledon 2025Getty Images

Keep ReadingShow less
Abhishek Bachchan

Abhishek Bachchan says Amitabh told him he could not even say a line properly on Sarkar set

Getty Images

Abhishek Bachchan reveals Amitabh crushed him with a brutal remark during 'Sarkar' shoot

Quick highlights:

  • Abhishek Bachchan said he was “petrified” during his first scene with Amitabh Bachchan in Sarkar.
  • After the shoot, Amitabh scolded him in the car, saying, “Dialogue bolna aata nahi hai tumhe.
  • The 2005 political thriller marked their first major film together.
  • Abhishek will next be seen in Kaalidhar Laapata, premiering on 4 July on Zee5.

Abhishek Bachchan has opened up about a nerve-wracking experience from the sets of Sarkar, where his father Amitabh Bachchan gave him a blunt lesson on acting after their very first scene together. Speaking in an interview, Abhishek recalled the tension and pressure he felt on the first day of the shoot back in 2004 and the silence that followed until a sharp comment from his dad shattered it.

Abhishek BachchanAbhishek Bachchan reveals Amitabh crushed him with brutal remark during Sarkar shootGetty Images

Keep ReadingShow less
Why Mold Forms on Your Bathroom Ceiling — And What You Can Do About It

Why Mold Forms on Your Bathroom Ceiling — And What You Can Do About It

Have you ever noticed dark patches or a musty smell wafting from your bathroom ceiling? You’re not alone. Mold is a silent intruder in many homes, especially in humid areas like bathrooms, where ventilation is poor. It’s not just unsightly—it can also trigger health problems, particularly for young children, elders, and those with asthma or allergies.

In this guide, we’ll break down how to get mold off bathroom ceiling areas effectively and safely. We’ll also explore what causes mold on bathroom ceiling surfaces and how families—especially in multi-generational or apartment-style homes—can prevent it from coming back.

Keep ReadingShow less
Twitter Down Again: Users Report Widespread Issues on X Platform

Users were quick to turn to alternative social media platforms to express frustration

iStock

Twitter down reports surge as users flag fresh issues with X

Key points

  • Over 200 user reports flag issues with X (formerly Twitter)
  • “Twitter down” trends as users turn to other platforms to share complaints
  • DownDetector confirms spike in outage data within 10-minute window
  • Site monitors disruptions in real-time using user reports and online signals

The social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, experienced a wave of user-reported problems on Tuesday, with hundreds posting complaints online under the trending phrase “Twitter down”.

Outage reports spike on DownDetector

According to monitoring website DownDetector, 214 reports were registered within a 10-minute span. The surge in complaints points to a likely service disruption, although no official comment has yet been made by X.

Keep ReadingShow less