Indian tennis ace Leander Paes welcomed the ATP's new scoring system for the doubles game from 2006, hoping that the changes would result in more prime time television coverage, popularity and prize-money.
"I must say the ATP has done a good job to find a happy ground to popularize the game of doubles and not only finance more prize-money for the doubles but also increase its popularity of the game as well," Paes said in an interview to the China Central Television's 'Sports Scene'.
"In the last five to seven years, we have seen doubles taking the back seat compared to the singles. It is really unfortunate, especially for a person like me who has transitioned from the singles to the doubles game.
Paes, who teamed up with Serbia's Nedad Zimonjic to claim the runners-up title at the year-ending Masters Cup doubles last week in Shanghai, said he and other players had a long meeting with the new ATP president, Etienne de Villiers, and staff on the newly-formulated rules for doubles starting, from 2006, which will make the doubles match shorter.
Though the changes were not the best-case scenario, it actually gives the tournament a better chance to put the matches on prime time on TV, Paes said.
"By capsuling the quantity of the match, they can predict a bit more how long it will take and put it on prime time spot which will gain more publicity for the game of doubles. It is a bit of give and take for the players and the tournaments," he said.
"If they can put more of doubles on prime time TV, it will be wonderful for the game of tennis," he said as the Indo-Serbian duo ended the year as the No.6 in the ATP ranking.
Villiers, who was in Shanghai last week, said that with the new system, a men's doubles match will have just two full sets with a tiebreak at 6-all with no advantages, as the innovation within the traditional set. The third set will be a full match tie-break, which is first to 10.
ATP has said that the changes to the scoring system are all made to better showcase the game of men's doubles.
Commenting on his tight schedule and play, Paes said: "In a profession like tennis, the world is your platform, the world is your stage. You end up travelling 30 weeks out of 52. I've been travelling for the last 20 years now and in doing that I have made some great friends, including my doubles partner."
He said it has been an honour to be the highest-ranking Asian player for over a decade now.
Stressing on compatibility, Paes said: "I always choose my doubles partner based on my strengths and weaknesses on the tennis court and off the tennis court. In terms of off the
tennis court, in terms of how the person is, I like a very easy going, lay-back sort of guy because then you can actually learn from life. You can be a student of tennis and life and enjoy the whole year travelling together," he said.
Asked about Martina Navratilova, his mixed doubles partner, a visibly moved Paes said: "Martina is a true legend of the game. She epitomizes what an athlete could and should be."
"It is an honour not only to play with her but also win quite a few Grand Slams with her," he said, recalling their joint campaigns.
At one time, Martina really stood out for true star quality when I was actually diagnosed for cancer two years ago, he noted.
Paes told the channel that he and Martina were scheduled to play in the US Open prior to his ailment was diagnosed.
"She could have played with any other partner and I tried to convince her to do so. But she didn't. And more importantly, she stayed in touch with me every single day, every step of the way through my recovery. We went on to play together in the Australian Open and get to the final eight months later," he recalled.
Paes, who has a considerable fan following in China, praised the communist nation's efforts to popularise tennis.
With the Beijing Olympics to be staged in less than three years, most Chinese players are now training in Florida and other parts of the world, he noted.
Paes particularly praised emerging Chinese female player Peng Shuai, whom he saw for the first time in Busan during the Asian Games in 2002 and impressed him with her shot-making.
"Ever since she moved to Florida, she has spent a lot of time, training, physically getting fitter and stronger. She has done really well. So I wish her the best of luck and wish all the young Chinese players the best of luck.
"With the infrastructure that you have in China, especially the Shanghai Tennis Centre where I am playing, I hope the youngsters will make full use of it," Paes added.
