Sania deserves all the attention: Bhupathi

Kochi, November 20: Tennis has really come a long way in India and in the last five to six years it has been getting the biggest attention, thanks to Sania Mirza, who is doing really well in international circuits, doubles specialist Mahesh Bhupathi said on Sunday.

"Indian women tennis never was so deep as of now. As I can see it will grow. Wherever I go, parents want to make their children like Sania," he said when asked about the standard of women tennis.

The Oberoi sisters--Shikha and Neha--are doing well, he said.

"We have enough talented kids, but unfortunately we have not enough coaches teaching the kids in the right way," said Bhupathi, who was in Kochi in connection with the inauguration of Regional Sports Centre-Mahesh Bhupathi Tennis Academy (RSC-MBTA). On Sania getting more attention in the media than Leander Paes and himself, he said, "Sania is playing individual sport and Leander and myself are doing well playing the doubles events. For the achievements she had made in one year, she deserves all the attention".

On whether cricket had hijacked tennis, Bhupathi said, "it is a different situation. In cricket to become a star one has to be in India team, but in tennis to become a star you have to be in the top 15 in the world".

MBTA was planning to start six centres by January one next in the first phase around the country, said Bhupathi, nine time doubles and mixed doubles Grand Slam champion.

"The Kochi centre will be the third centre," he said. MBTA has already tied up with Navi Mumbai Sports Association (NMSA), Vashi and The Club, Mumbai.