World No. 2 doubles tennis player Mahesh Bhupathi is shocked by the news of his former partner, Leander Paes, being diagnosed with a cyst in the brain.
"I am shocked and shattered," Bhupathi said over phone from New York, adding, he would be flying to Orlando tonight or early tomorrow to be by Paes's side.
"Leander is a fighter and survivor. I am fully confident that he will recover," the 29-year-old Bhupathi said.
Bhupathi said Paes had spoken to him over phone for a long time after it was confirmed that there was cyst in his brain.
The 30-year-old ace is hospitalised at M D Anderson Cancer Centre, in Orlando, where an expert medical team is attending on him. He has been ruled out of the US Open, starting on Monday.
Paes and Bhupathi, who combined to win three Grand Slam doubles titles, were scheduled to pair again in the ATP tournament in Long Island, New York, but the team pulled out due to Leander's illness.