Bhupathi to partner Stepanek

In continuation of the company's efforts to support the development of Indian tennis, Apollo Tyres Ltd on Tuesday signed up the doubles team of India's Mahesh Bhupathi and Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic for the ATP and Gland Slam tours of 2007.

This comes exactly a year after Apollo Tyres decided to support the training expenses of the teenage prodigy from Delhi, Yuki Bhambri. In the summer of 2006, Yuki has trained under Bob Brett in San Remo, Italy, and held the number one ranking for both Asia and India Under-14 in 2006.

A Padmashree holder, Bhupathi has the record for the maximum Grand Slam titles won by an Indian -- four doubles and six mixed doubles. He has partnered with some of the best players like Martina Hingis and Mary Pierce in the mixed doubles and Leander Paes and Mario Ancic in the doubles.

However, it is Bhupathi's off-circuit work, developing and promoting the game, that has led Apollo to back the Bhupathi-Radek duo. While not on the ATP tour, Bhupathi devotes his time to promoting the sport in India by holding tennis camps for youngsters, while running a full time tennis academy in Bangalore.

Bhupathi and Stepanek have decided to play the circuit after promising results both times they played together in 2006. The duo reached the semi-finals at Monte Carlo in 2006, beating top teams like Paes-Damm and Federer-Allegro along the way.

The duo will begin their season with the Australian Open, later this month, where they will play their first Grand Slam of the year. Bhupathi will be playing his preferred left court while Radek is a natural deuce-court specialist and will be playing on the right.