Virat has taken fitness in cricket to a different level: Leander

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AITA secretary Hironmoy Chatterjee being felicitated by Sourav Ganguly and Leander Paes as West Bengal Sports Minister Arup Biswas looks on. Image Source: Xtra Time

Kolkata: India’s ace tennis player Leander Paes has admitted on Tuesday that he is a huge follower of Virat’s fitness. Leander, who is in the city to felicitate AITA secretary Hironmoy Chatterjee feel the Indian test captain has taken fitness in cricket to a different level. xtratime.in correspondent Sabyasachi Bagchi caught up with the 43 year old evergreen tennis star at the Tolly Club golf course for an informal chat. Here are the excerpts:

You will have a chance to break the all-time record to win most doubles matches in Davis Cup, getting past Nicola Pietrangeli?

I am looking to have that record in my name, getting past Pietrangeli. The tie against New Zealand in Pune will be not easy as they have a good doubles team as well. But with our doubles combination I hope to break the record.

You had earlier wished to play alongside Saket Myneni in doubles in Davis Cup. Did you still stick with it?

Saket and myself played a very good doubles match against the Rio Olympics Gold medal winners – Rafa Nadal & Marc Lopez. But as I have always said whoever they give me as partner in Davis Cup, I will always put my best foot forward for the country.

At the age 43 what keeps you going?

The ball does not know the age of the person hitting it. When you have passion achieving greatness in your field, you must always work hard try and achieve that. No matter what people say.

What has been the secret behind your success?

I owe a lot to my father who has been my mentor. I draw tremendous motivation from my father. My lifestyle is very important throughout my career. The hard work, the rest, the fitness training, the recovery, everything has contributed to my success over the years.

Did you ever thought about writing your autobiography or say for that matter having a bio-pic like the one MS Dhoni had?

I did enjoy watching the Dhoni bio-pic. They told the story so beautifully. The story itself is so motivating. Even Sourav’s life is so motivating. So, it will be interesting when I make my bio-pic, to tell my story not in a fictional fashion but in a documented manner. Right now there are a few things in discussion that I cannot disclose.

Roger Federer finds himself out of the Top 10 ATP rankings. What is your take?

Roger is one of the best tennis legends in the history of the game. The he has carried himself over the years is unbelievable. I have tremendous respect for all that he has achieved.

Novak has recently replaced Murray to be the World No. 1. What will you say about the tough competition that exists in men’s tennis?

The competition in the men’s game is phenomenal. You have got Djokovic who has taken over from Federer. Nadal is trying to find his way back. Andy Murray is playing the World Championship to retain the No. 1 ranking. So the competition with all this players is really exciting.

The great Sachin Tendulkar started his international career on this day. How do you see his journey?

Sachin is fantastic. The way he has conducted his career is incredible. He is a pure genius and I have followed him just as I had followed Dhoni and now Virat Kohli. I think he Virat is doing excellent and wish he can bring more laurels to the country.

Talking about Virat, both of you share the same fitness mantra?

This is where Virat excels I think. He has taken fitness in cricket to a different level. Whenever you watch him play the game, he is so agile. He has that ruggedness in him.

Lastly, a word on Hironmoy Chatterjee who has been instrumental in shaping your career?

When I started here in Kolkata I was about 6 years old. I remember going to South Club as a child and practicing there. Then when I started practicing here at the DKS from the age of 14 , Sonada (Hironmoy Chatterjee) did everything to shape my career. There are very few people who have been instrumental in making me who I am. I am grateful to my parents, Naresh Kumar (my first coach and Davis Cup captain) and obviously Sonada. It is right here that I started my tennis. Sonada has been a pillar of Bengal tennis.