JOIN USDoubles ace Rohan Bopanna says "it is a catch-22 situation" for him to decide whether to play the US Open or the Asian Games in Jakarta later this year since the two events are clashing with each other.
However the reigning French Open mixed doubles champion indicated that sacrificing a Grand Slam can be an option for him if he was assured of making the season-end finale.
This year, Asian Games are scheduled to be held in Indonesia from August 18 to September 2 while the US Open is slated for August 27 to September 9. Bopanna had opted out of the last two editions of the Asian Games -- Guangzhou and Incheon.
Leander Paes also missed the Asian Games in the last two editions. Their absence did not make much of a difference to India's medals tally as the country won a men's doubles gold in 2010 (Somdev Devvarman and Sanam Singh) and a silver in 2014 (Saketh Myneni and Sanam). India also won the mixed doubles gold with Sania Mirza and Myneni finishing on top of the podium.
Asked what will be his preference, Bopanna replied: "Still a very long way to go. Sometimes it all depends on how rankings are placed, are we seeded or not. It's somewhere there with the US Open. I have to make that decision later on in the year.
"At the end of the day, it's not only the Grand Slams we are fighting for, we are also fighting for London Masters (season-end finale)," he said on the sidelines of the Tata Open Maharashtra where he will defend his title.
"Ideally, if we are doing well in the beginning of the year and we have already qualified pretty much there, then I can take that decision that I can skip a Grand Slam. I have to do either, if it's the same week," Bopanna said.
Asked how important it is for him to play in such multi-disciplinary events, representing the country, Bopanna said, "It's an individual sport. Winning a medal for country is very prestigious irrespective of the event. A Grand Slam is also as big for a tennis player. It's catch-22 situation. It's not a win-win situation. I have to sacrifice one of the two."
Bopanna also revealed he won't play with Dabrowski at the Australian Open. "I will play with Timea Babos (from Hungary). The partnership is only for Australian Open and see how it goes. Gabriela also said we should look for new partner. There were some close points which we could not finish."
Bopanna and Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan will be playing Paes and Purav Raja in their first match here.