Aim is to stay in top-10: Rohan Bopanna

Amid growing speculation on who will team up with Sania Mirza for the Rio Olympics, Rohan Bopanna said his sole focus was to maintain his top-10 ranking until the French Open in June.

While veteran Leander Paes had said that he is the ideal partner for Sania, Bopanna believes a lot of scenarios can play out before the Rio Games in August.

“I will play all the big tournaments there are on the calendar before Rio, starting from Dubai to Indian Wells, Monte Carlo, Rome, French Open.

“The aim is to be in the top-10 till the French Open and we will see who can partner who, be it the doubles or the mixed doubles. So there is a long way to go before Rio,” Bopanna was quoted as saying.

The qualification for Rio will depend on the rankings published on June 6, while the French Open will be played from May 16 to June 5.

Bopanna said it was impossible to predict his partner as of now.

Paes, who has slipped to 52nd in the doubles rankings, had also claimed that Bopanna had refused to playwith him in the lead up to the Olympics.

Asked for his reaction on Paes’ comments, Bopanna said he was happy to continue with his current partner Florian Mergea.

“The focus is on improving on the gains made last year. After a while, I will be with a partner at a stretch for one year (in April).

“The cut off for the Indian Wells next month is a combined ranking of 50 so I can’t play with Leander anyway.

“Everyone needs to defend points before the French Open and I will be doing the same. There are lot of scenarios before the Olympics. And you have to remember you have to qualify for either men’s singles or men’s doubles to even go to Rio,” said Bopanna.

Though it is not yet known whether India will have two men’s doubles teams like in London 2012, the country's best chance of a medal is in mixed doubles alongside world number one Sania.