New York: Leander Paes sees no hope of reviving his pairing with Mahesh Bhupathi, but the Indian doubles star might have found a new partner that can help him win his first US Open title - Martina Navratilova.

Paes and Navratilova will face South Africa's Robbie Koenig and Belgium's Els Callens in a second-round mixed doubles match here after ousting top seeds Todd Woodbridge and Rennae Stubbs of Australia 7-6 (7/4), 7-5 in the first round.

"I am just relishing the opportunity of playing with such a true champion. She is phenomenal," Paes said. "It was probably one of the most cherished moments on a tennis court I have had in my whole career."

Paes, 29, has had many great moments. He joined Bhupathi in winning the 2001 French Open crown and the duo had an amazing 1999 season, capturing the Wimbledon and French Open titles while losing in the finals at the US and Australian Opens.

Paes also just missed a US Open title last year, teaming, with American Lisa Raymond to reach the mixed doubles final but losing in third-set tie-breaker to Stubbs and Woodbridge.

Navratilova, 45, won 167 singles titles, including 18 Grand Slam singles crowns. She returned to play doubles in 2000, six years after retiring. Her seven Slam mixed doubles titles includes the 1985 and 1987 US Open crowns.

"It's a great honour to play with someone like Martina," Paes said. "Playing that first match with Martina seemed like the finals of a Grand Slam. The energy with which we played, the energy that surrounded us was phenomenal."

"When I'm her age I would just like to be on the tennis court let alone perform at her level. It showed me why she possesses so many Grand Slam trophies, why she's so well regarded and why that makes her probably the best player that ever lived."

Paes was still hurt after the March break up with compatriot Bhupathi that ended a men's doubles tandem once regarded as the world's finest. He firmly closed the door on any notion the two might reunite in 2003.

Bhupathi and Max Mirnyi of Belarus remain in the men's doubles draw here while Paes and Aussie Michael Hill were ousted in their first match on Saturday, Aussies Wayne Arthurs and Andrew Kratzmann taking a 7-6 (8/6), 4-6, 7-6 (7/5) victory.

Mixed doubles was not on Paes' mind as he arrived for men's doubles with a new partner. But it was very much on Navratilova's mind and Paes was her man.

"She came straight up to me and walked in front of me and said, 'You are playing mixed doubles with me. What do you say to that?'" Paes recalled. "I just nodded and here we are."

Bhupathi shattered his partnership with Paes five months ago, picking a moment that made it difficult for both to find new people for the bulk of the Slam season.

"I'm not going to wash our dirty laundry in public, but it hurts," Paes said. "It wasn't my choice. We were supposed to play this whole year together. It came as a rude shock when he came up to me and said we're done."

Bhupathi and Paes lost in the first round last year and has been beaten in the first match three times in a row, although Paes points out, "We were still the number four team in the world, you know?"

"I'm not going to say he's wrong because I'm human too. But it has been a tough year. It was tough trying to find another partner. Every other good doubles player was already set for the year. So I thought that was very selfish."

Speaking of their shattered partnership in the past tense, Paes reflected upon the good times as well as the painful moments. "We had a wonderful career together," Paes said.

"We were number 1 in the world. We shared many special moments that I won't ever forget. I respect him for that and thank him for that. But that's about it."

Agencies