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Leander Paes Hints At Retirement, Might Become Coach

"A big thank you to you all."
Tennis player Leander Paes poses for a profile shoot at Nariman Point. (Photo by Vikas Khot/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
Hindustan Times via Getty Images
Tennis player Leander Paes poses for a profile shoot at Nariman Point. (Photo by Vikas Khot/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

Veteran tennis player Leander Paes might hang up his boots in a "few months". The 43-year-old player, who has won 18 Grand Slams, hinted at retirement while speaking at a press conference ahead of the Chennai Open.

"We have got a few people new on my team now, who are going to help me in the last few months of my playing career, and my post-playing career," he said at the conference, reported The Indian Express. "I play for fun now. I play because I love the game, because I'm passionate about the game. There will come a point when the curtain comes down. Before that curtain comes down, a big thank you to you all. It's been a fun run."

Paes, who has played professional tennis for over 26 years, also appeared to suggest that he was looking forward to coaching young talent post retirement. "I would love to create someone who is winning for the first time and make them realise what it takes to win that first one. And when they do, show that person what it is to win five or six times," he said. "That's the dream now. More than playing an eighth Olympics or winning the 20th Grand Slam."

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.