AITA backs 'drained' Leander Paes

CHANDIGARH: The All India Tennis Association (AITA) came out strongly in support of Leander Paes, defending his decision to skip the Davis Cup tie against New Zealand.
"He asked for a break because he was emotionally drained after the Olympics selection controversy. The selectors have to consider all aspects, physical and mental, before taking a call," AITA secretary Bharat Oza said on Sunday.
Oza cited the example of English batsman Marcus Trescothick abandoning the tour of India and flying home because of a personal crisis. "We could have put our foot down and told him (Paes) to play, but we don't want to force any of our players into that situation. We went mainly by the fact that he was very disturbed," Oza said.