Bhupathi Still Not Fully Fit, Gets Back to Business
By Akshay Sawai

Mahesha Bhupathi left for Paris last night after a two-hour fitness test at the In Shape Fitness and Rehab Centre, Borivali, in the afternoon. The tennis star had suffered a groin injury during the Heineken Open in Singapore earlier this month. The previous week in Shanghai, Bhupathi had aggravated an abdomen injury.

“I think I am okay. There is no more pain, just a little weakness,” the US Open mixed doubles champion said yesterday. “Luckily we (he and partner Leander Paes) don't play till Wednesday. So I have a good five days to get ready.” Wimbledon champs Bhupathi and Paes are the top seed at the ATP Tour Super Nine even beginning on Monday in the French capital.

In Shape's Dr. Hima Dalal and Dr. Aijaz Ashai, who treated Bhupathi for more than a week in the city, said the physical problems had affected his endurance level. “Mahesh played for a couple of hours at a stretch when he went to Bangalore. He did not feel any pain but was exhausted. His endurance needs to be built up,” said Dalal. “His hip adaptor magnus muscle was inflamed, so we gave him a stretching and strengthening program. Yesterday he was given theraband exercises, three graded resistance bands for the hip, right wrist and right shoulder.”

The 25-year-old has also been put on a diet program. “It is important for him to lose around four kilograms and will keep in touch with us on this matter,” said Dalal.

Bhupathi stated, “I am gonna try and be more particular about food but it is not easy when you are on the road all the time. Overall, I am not 100 percent but I will simply start playing and see how it goes. We have six weeks of non-stop tennis ahead (culminating with the prestigious Wrold Doubles championships in the US). I better be fit.”