Leander Paes: Sport is a huge vehicle that can entertain everyone

Indian tennis doubles legend Leander Paes was given an on-court celebration at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Friday in the presence of Colm McLaughlin, Salah Tahlak, Ramesh Cidambi and Sinead El Sibai.

The 46 year old Paes cut a cake during the ceremony, as he will retire at the end of the 2020 season and this was his 20th and final appearance at the tournament. Paes was also presented with framed T-shirts of his ‘One Final Roar’ tour that will conclude later this year. Paes and partner Matthew Ebden were beaten on Friday in the quarter-finals by HenriKontinen/ Jan-LennardStruff 3-6, 3-6.

Paes spoke to the crowd and thanked him for their support through the years. “I first told my team about my final year on the tour way back in September. Sport is a huge vehicle that can entertain everyone and anyone. I am glad that I was able to use my sport to entertain you all through all of these years."

McLoughlin said Paes was a “true ambassador for Dubai and the Dubai Duty Free. Perhaps, not many may know this, but Leander has been closely involved with a lot of charity work for underprivileged kids all over."

Paes has been a champion in Dubai twice in his career - in 1998 with compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi and in 2003 with David Rikl and runner-up on three occasions - in 2004 with Jonas Bjorkman, in 2010 with Lukas Dlouhy and in 2018 with James Cerretani.

We’re not crying...YOU’RE crying 😢 We say goodbye to @Leander 🦁#DDFTennis pic.twitter.com/jp18LwPbqC

— Dubai Tennis Champs (@DDFTennis) February 28, 2020

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/32HVRH1