Lee at London? Sania may have the final say

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After days of intense drama laced with equal measures of threats and hurt in what has been a war of words, the All India Tennis Association hammered out a compromise formula, deciding to send two teams to the London Olympics. But if one thought that the great Indian tennis show came to an end, it was far from the truth.

The cornered AITA finally relented, pairing up Bengalureans Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna with Leander Paes to take the court alongside the young Vishnu Vardhan, the No.4 player in the country. But Paes’ trip to London is mired in uncertainty. The clincher in the deal, according to sources, is AITA’s assurance to Paes that he will be allowed to partner Sania Mirza in the mixed doubles, despite the Hyderabad girl’s stellar results with Bhupathi, with latest being their French Open title two weeks ago.

The focus now shifts to Indian tennis pin-up girl Sania, who is in London, fresh from her Paris triumph. In the past, Sania has made her preference to partner Bhupathi clear and in a bid to convince her, the AITA has written to her seeking her commitment to join up with Paes at the Olympics. But Paes is still unsure, much of it will depend on Sania toeing AITA’s line . Given his experience with the AITA, who for the past week had unconditionally backed him and slammed Bhupathi and Bopanna in the process, it is learnt that the veteran feels let down by AITA’s decision and is insisting on a written assurance on his mixed doubles entry, in the event of Sania gaining a wildcard from the ITF on June 28.