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Bhupathi out of Davis Cup action

Tennis ace Mahesh Bhupathi, recovering from a shoulder operation, today ruled himself out of Davis Cup action, declaring he will be returning to competitive tennis only in May.

Speaking to newsmen in Bangalore, Bhupathi, who was operated upon by Dr Donald Rose in New York four weeks ago, said his arm will have to be in a sling for another ten days, after which he will need complete rest.

"But I cannot be hitting the ball till mid-March," he informed.

Because of his injury, his doubles partner Leander Paes has teamed up with Sebastian Lareau for the next six months. Bhupathi felt the pairing will be an excellent combination, as Paes is world number one and Lareau number four.

He said the year gone by was an exciting one for the Indian pair, as despite his injury and Paes being out of action for two weeks, they were able to beat the Woodies comprehensively in the World Championship at Hartford in the US, though they failed to win the title. For the coming year, he said he is keen on playing in the US Open and then the Olympics.

Asked whether he and Paes will defend their doubles title at the French Open, Bhupathi said he will discuss the matter with Paes.