Sania would keep the flag flying after our retirement: Bhupathi

New Delhi, July 11 (UNI) Allaying fears of any vacuum after his and Leander Paes' retirement, multiple Grand Slam winner Mahesh Bhupathi today said Sania Mirza will keep on flying the flag high for Indian tennis long after they are gone.

''The fears that our retirement would create any vacuum are unfounded. Sania Mirza will keep the flag flying for India,'' Bhupathi told reporters here.

Sania has not won a singles title after her maiden triumph at WTA tie IV event in Hyderabad in 2005 but Bhupathi said her best years were yet to come.

''She is just 20-year-old. Give her sometime. She's playing great tennis and I am sure she'll be back to her winning ways soon,'' the tennis ace said and, on being reminded that Maria Sharapova has achieved more at around the same age, shot back: ''Michael Chang won the French Open when he was 17. Does that mean, every 18-year-old playing tennis should hang up his boots?'' Bhupathi, who paired with Sania in the Wimbledon mixed doubles but failed to advance beyond second round, hinted that they could pair again in the US Open next month.

''It was fun playing alongside her in the Wimbledon. We played well but unfortunately couldn't go beyond second round. We could've done better. Anyway, we may pair again in the US Open next month.'' He stressed the talent was in abundance in India but the players were not physically fit which was doing them in at the international level.

''I've always said that there's plenty of talent in India but tennis has become a very physical sport and Indian players are lagging behind because of poor fitness,'' Bhupathi said.

UNI