NEW DELHI: India's Rohan Bopanna and Pakistan's Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi have ended their successful tennis doubles partnership, which was hailed as a symbol of friendship between the rival nations.
Bopanna told the Indian Express newspaper on Monday that he will team up with veteran compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi in 2012, while Qureshi will next partner Dutchman Jean-Julien Roger at the Australian Open in January.
"As the season has ended now, I can confirm that I am playing with Mahesh in 2012," Bopanna said, declining to elaborate on the reason for parting ways with Qureshi after four years.
"Who I want to play with is my decision ... I did have a successful year with Aisam but now I am starting a new year with Mahesh, and it's as simple as that."
Bopanna and Qureshi, who joined hands in an unlikely partnership in 2007, shot to fame when they reached the US Open doubles final last year and are currently ranked ninth in the world.
The duo actively promoted better India-Pakistan ties and even offered to play tennis over the land border dividing the two countries, which have a history of warfare and political tension.
Bopanna's announcement also confirmed media speculation that India's best-known doubles combination of Bhupathi and Leander Paes, who won three Grand Slam titles, would not play together on the circuit.
Bopanna was non-committal on whether the decision to change partners was due to the London 2012 Olympics.
"As of now Mahesh and I have decided to start the year together," he said. "The Olympics have a lot of other technicalities like form and rankings, and we will see how it goes."
COMMENTS (41)
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@Saud: he is a better player den aisam
@ashok sai: FIRST OF ALL 26/11 was not carried out by Aisam...secondly it was not carried out by 18 crore Pakistanis....just like you have Bal Takray, Shiv Sena, and had massacres in Gujarat by hindus....similarly we are ashamed to have a person born like Kasab...a crime by a bunch of people is not by whole nation.....but still if you say so...then ...good riddance......to you and bhuppati as well........you are one true close minded man.....
I <3 Aisam
Please remember that even after 26/11, the loudest cheer the crowd gave in Commonwealth Games Opening ceremony after Indian contingent was PAKISTAN ..So Pakistanis generalizing about Indian posters of having hateful feelings is not a correct statement
Big mistake.
Unfortunately politics does come in play between Pakistan and India. When terrorists trained from Pakistan kills innocents all over India then it is difficult to play as if nothing happened.
@Ritesh: Before Mumbai (even though there was constant poking from their side in Kashmir and Kargil) most of the Indians had no issues whatesover with sports and even now we hosted them well in Comm games.
@Shabnum: well I hope the state is not involved, may be if your govt can provide voice samples then it will be all clear... may be even in neutral country not India. If Pakistan has nothing to fear then whats the problem.
Reading the comments here, it seems Aisam and Rohan have wasted 4y trying to bring the Indians and Pakistanis together... This is Tennis, completely normal to change partners by doubles players. May be Leander will play with a Chinese. Aisam used to play with an Israeli. pls leave politics out of sports.
Go, Bopanna/Bhupathi! Next stop, the gold medal podium, London 2012!!
is ISI and RAW involved in this split ???
@CB Guy: pinto was talking about his mutti when he used the word pathetic. Regarding Ritesh, well an apple never fall far from the tree. He is no different from the chienne indians.
@sri: yes this phrase is used in areas like GB road from where i belong and even you live opposite me. Why deny brother?
I can laugh at the people posting ulterior motives to this tennis decision . Guys, it happens all the time in Tennis . It is a purely professional decision with eyes on London 2012 .
IF Aisam and Bopanna terminating their partnership represents Pak and India relations , then I think Bhupathi and Leander breaking their partnership , which was won 10+ Grandslam titles together should represent break in Bangalore -Mumbai city relationships???? No , they are splitting as both are 35+ and realize that with old legs, they can't win a medal in London 2012 and therefore need younger partners for having a realistic crack at London 2012 . People don't even know all three are from SOUTH INDIA where nobody cares they team with a pakistani or a timbuktu or a bangladeshi . The feelings relating to partition are only confined in Northern India especially Punjab and Hindi speaking belt .
@Karim Javed:
Yes Karim Javed. We should shed our jingoisms to become powers representing 1.25 crore and 18 crore citizens respectively and fulfill the dreams of the poorest of the poor in our countries .
@ pinto: yeah well if he is such a pathetic player, why is he ranked 9th? I don't think you mean Rohan is even more terrible coz he is placed 11th? You are only making yourself look silly.
@ Ritesh: you are refreshingly reasonable for an Indian poster (no pun intended).
@ Err: cha gai ho.
Pairs make and break all the time. Both should learn from their mistakes and move on. Especially Aisam, he has a career ahead of him and needs to make the most out of this opportunity perhaps.
@ ashok sai --Aisam, ''''Bhagwan''' bless you for finally leaving Bopanna.
never heard this here in india or bollyood we better love to say ""god"" bless you and plz whoever you are get well soon.
@Everyoneelse Let ashok sai have his 5 seconds of his only shot at pointing something out on us. Let us instead collectively appreciate the effort he takes to log into a Pakistani website every half and hour to troll over here to score a few petty points to appease his sad, bitter lonely ego. As he cackles over the fact that Bopanna left Aisam - all problems of India (intense poverty, Kashmir, corruption etc) have been solved. Good job Ashok, you seem to be the sharpest tool when laughing about Aisam, because honestly he was one of the very few Pakistanis, who still intensely worked hard on promoting PakIndia friendship and cooperation , so your laughing at him only plays into the hands of all the Anti-Indian elements who are against such sportsmanship. So yea keep laughing on about someone who was actually a friend of Indians and always spoke well of them.
Old news really. good for bopanna. its nothing big, hope he does well. Aisam is doing just fine. The guy won 4 titles last year, one more then what his partner did. His new partner won 5 events last year. he has found a good partner in the Dutchman.
And those talking about form, Aisam is certainly in a better nick then Rohan. Those who follow the game would know that. Rohan's big serve may actually become his week point in immediate future as he is making too many double faults off late, even while defending break points. Aisam serves 10 miles slower but he is much more accurate.
why are people like ashok sai allowed to post here? dude get a life. its tennis. aisam and bhoppana realized that their message for peace falls to deaf ears you being the prime example. @salman.. indians, jews or who ever can post on ET. Its online. Nobody should be stopped airing their views, but sometimes people like ashok should be given the book.
@Ritesh: totally agree with you.
I hope the two remain good friends and are able to partner together in the future. Playing with other partners might prove to be a good move as both will be able to learn new things from their respective partners and hopefully when they get back together InshAllah, they'll be able to bring these strengths to the table.
Best of luck to both of them...Stay calm and play on!!!
p.s. Ashok, I've had the good pleasure of meeting lots of very lovely, level headed Indians. Please don't ruin the impression of your countrymen by spewing such hatred. You and all of us will be better off if there is peace between the two neighbours. Thanks.
@Ashok sai: GB ROAD---Good family business, you and your family must not have been affected by the recession.
Ashok, you're attitude is precisely what is wrong with Pak-India relations. In diplomatic channels around the world, India is praised for its liberal and progressive mindset. Alas, the ground reality is completely different. A significant portion of the Indian population still vociferously harbour anti-Pakistan feelings.
As for 26/11, kindly provide evidence implicating our state, we will move from there. There is no point you blaming the innocent majority with your baseless and frankly uncouth accusations. We empathise with your dead and we condemn terrorism, do not hijack a potential commonality between our two countries with gaining petty political milage. Especially not over a tennis partnership.
Wazeer-e-Azam, Imran Khan
There is no big deal. its their game plan. Bopanna is participating in Olympics next year and he needs a partner from his own country. Aisam could have some other reasons too. They have already peaked, therefore they should try something different. Good luck to both of them. We will miss them.
Finally...Now Aisam will b more successful hopefully...
@ashok sai Haw hai, yea we are insulted and our egoes are hurt. Are you satisfied? Frankly I dont care if it was a patriotic decision or a personal one, or a tribute or whatever, but why do you have to be so petty and drag the politics everywhere. I guess because you can only laugh at a tennis decision, in real life it sucks for you that despite all the hate you spew on Pakistan, we are extremely iimportant player in the region and even India needs us to safeguard its interests in Afghanistan
Good that Aisam removed indian from his side. He should have never carried on with the negative energy around him.
This comment was not made by me, somebody else posted in my name.
@Saud: yes aisam should have dumped Bopanna like my chienne mere was dumped on GB road delhi.
@Ritesh:
No Ritesh, I mean it, if a dog bites your leg, will you say it had only bitten my leg so the hands can be friendly with the dog ? Irrespective of whether they laugh off or not, as a nation Pak should made to understand by all diplomatic means that by harboring and nurturing terrorists it will be isolated amongst the international community, that is what I tried to provoke through my comments.
@Ritesh: Very Well said Ritesh and some politic mind people started their politics here too :P
Guys, Cool down!!! It's a simple tennis decision ..I am sure Aisam and Rohan still remain close friends and probably would be laughing and joking calling each other about these strong comments here ..Rohan cannot refuse Bhupathi as he had been his mentor from junior days and all his endorsements are taken care by Globosport, Mahesh Bhupathi's sports firm ..They would also want to partner together so as to establish a partnership to have a best chance to get a medal , even better Gold medal at London 2012 for India .. Since Mahesh and Leander are old warhorses with last try for Gold at olympics, I can foresee Rohan and Aisam teaming again together after 2012 Olympics..
@Saud: what a joke.infact aisam is a patetic player
@Saud:
Its Rohan who has announced the split, 'Sour Grapes'.
Aisam should have dumped him long ago. He was holding Aisam back anyway.
Well I guess 'endgame' is taking place in tennis too!
Good riddance, let them know the people values and it can be taken as the tribute to 26/11 victims.