Bhupathi says he's playing better without Paes

Indian tennis ace Mahesh Bhupathi won the mixed doubles crown at Wimbledon, partnering Elena Likhovtseva of Russia, on Sunday, and immediately declared that he's playing some of the best tennis of his career since splitting with former partner Leander Paes.

Bhupathi and Likhovtseva, seeded third, beat Zimbabweans Kevin Ullyett and Slovak Daniela Hantuchova, the fourth seeds, 6-2, 1-6, 6-1 to emerge triumphant.

It was the sixth Grand Slam title for the 28-year-old from Bangalore and his third in mixed doubles, but the first with the Russian.

"This is the third Grand Slam that we've played together. We knew we would eventually break the barrier and it's great that we did it at a big tournament like Wimbledon," said the Indian.

Bhupathi said he has no plans to get back with Paes in the immediate future, and would continue pairing with Max Mirnyi of Belarus, with who he reached the quarter-finals this year's Wimbledon.

Paes and Bhupathi, whose 24 doubles titles also include the 1999 Wimbledon crown, split for the second time in three years earlier this year as their form began to dip.

The duo reunited briefly to win the Mallorca title in April before separating again to honour commitments with other players.

Paes was knocked out in the first round of the Wimbledon doubles with Australian Stephen Huss, and went out in the quarter-finals of the mixed doubles, partnering American Lisa Raymond.

"I was looking for a break. I found we were falling into a rut," admitted Bhupathi. "We haven't talked about it. I'm not going to say we're never going to play again.

"But I've been playing the best tennis of my career since we split. It's like Todd Woodbridge. If things work out we can play again. I wouldn't say no.

"Right now I'm enjoying playing with Max. We've played five tournaments and we've played well in the five events. Why rock the boat?" asked the Indian.

Paes and Bhupathi, popularly known as "The Indian Express" and who were once number one in the world, had already split once in 1999 before reforming their partnership just before the Sydney Olympics the following year.

Sunday's win is the first mixed doubles Grand Slam title for Bhupathi since the 1999 US Open title with Japan's Ai Sugiyama.

"It's been a while since I won mixed so it's nice. I wanted to win another title, but with mixed doubles you can't have a strategy, you just have to go out and have fun.

"Elena had a lot of confidence for the great week. It worked out," he added.