By IANS
New Delhi : Leander Paes has fond memories of the center court at the R. K. Khanna Stadium at the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association (DLTA). India’s Davis Cup non-playing captain has grown with the court, as it were.
The grass court at the main stadium, which saw some wonderful performances of Paes and the Indian tennis squad, will soon be a thing of past. The courts will be dug up and a synthetic hard surface will be laid there for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
A nostalgic Paes went down memory lane talking to IANS.
” Yes I have had a long association with the court here. I played my first under-16 match here. I have played quite a few Davis Cup matches also.
We beat Korea in April 2000 here; I beat Jeremy Bates during India-Great Britain Davis Cup tie on this very court. So I have lots of memories of this place,” a beaming Paes said after India took a 2-1 lead against Uzbekistan in the on going Asia-Oceania Zone Group 1 Davis Cup tie.
“I am sure the court will look beautiful during the Commonwealth Games,” he said.