The University of Mississippi Athletics
Former Rebel Tennis Standout Wins Opening Olympic Match
8/16/2004 | Men's Tennis
Aug. 16, 2004
ATHENS, Greece - Former NCAA Doubles Champion Mahesh Bhupathi teamed up with Leander Paes to win their opening match at the 2004 Olympics, Sunday. The pair defeated current U.S. Open Champion Andy Roddick and Mardy Fish, 7-6(5), 6-3. Bhupathi and Paes will next face this year's Wimbledon Champion, Roger Federer, and Yves Allegro of Switzerland in the second round Tuesday. After resuming playing together three weeks ago, Bhupathi and Paes won the Tennis Masters in Toronto for the second time. Together, the duo has won 23 titles, including the 1999 and 2001 French Open Championships and the 1999 Wimbledon. Bhupathi, who earned All-America and SEC Player of the Year honors as well as claiming the NCAA Doubles title for the Rebels, is competing for his native country, India, for the second time in the Olympics. Bhupathi and Paes reached the semifinals at the 2000 games in Sydney.
