Mumbai: India's multiple grand slam winner Leander Paes is hoping to win an elusive Tennis Masters Cup doubles crown in Shanghai next week.
The 33-year-old Davis Cup captain will partner Czech Martin Damm and the pair are seeded sixth in the premier year-end event.
"After reaching the finals of a grand slam (Australian Open), and winning the US Open doubles, we are looking forward to a good performance in Shanghai," Paes said on Thursday.
"I have reached the finals on four occasions in the past, (but) the world championships is the only major eluding me. Last year I had the best chance of winning it, playing with (Nenad) Zimonjic, when we were a set and break up against (Michael) Llodra and (Fabrice) Santoro."
The French pair won the final 6-7 6-3 7-6.
Paes has been struggling with a finger injury recently but he said it was better. "Being the Masters, I am sure the adrenaline rush will keep me going," he said.
Paes is expected to team up with Sania Mirza in the inaugural Asian Hopman Cup later this month.
"The Hopman Cup would be a good practice ground for us in preparation for the Asian Games, but it would be hard since I will be playing the singles and mixed doubles on the same day."
"But, let’s take it a step at a time," he said.
The Asian Hopman Cup is scheduled to be held in Hyderabad between November 23 and 26 and will feature the top men and women players from China, Japan, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, Uzbekistan apart from India.
The winner will get a direct entry to the main draw of the Hopman Cup to be held in Perth, Australia, early next year. The Asian Games begins in Qatar on December 1 where Paes is hoping to bag the mixed doubles gold with Mirza.
The pair won a bronze medal in the 2002 Asiad in South Korea. Mirza, who turns 20 on November 15, enjoyed a breakthrough 2005 when she became the first Indian to claim a WTA title and reach the top-50 in the women's rankings, but has had a relatively disappointing season.
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