Sports fans from across the country hurriedly sent him their best wishes and breathed a collective sigh of relief once his brain lesion was found to be non-malignant.

Paes, 30, who makes his return after a five-month layoff at next week's Australian Open, where he will try to defend his mixed-doubles title with American Martina Navratilova, knows he will have the entire nation rooting for him.

But judging from pure statistics, it would be hard to understand what makes this tennis player the most-loved sportsman in India after cricketer Sachin Tendulkar.

His highest singles ranking is just 73 and he has finished in the top-100 on the ATP's year-end list only once since turning professional in 1991.

Long before his exploits with compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi on the doubles circuit began seven years ago, Paes had captured the imagination of his country by pulling off one stunning upset after another in the Davis Cup.

He built his reputation by wearing his heart on his sleeve every time he played for India, beating higher ranked opponents such as Croatian Goran Ivanisevic, South African Wayne Ferreira and Dutchman Paul Haarhuis, to keep India in and around the competition's elite World Group.

A surprise bronze in singles at Atlanta in 1996, India's first Olympic medal in 16 years, raised his stock further.

LEANDER FIRST

"There may be Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi and Boris Becker for the rest of the world but for us first there is Leander," said New Delhi tennis fan Gaurav Bhatia.

"When he plays for India, he can beat them all."

Among Paes's most vocal supporters through his illness was Navratilova, the 47-year-old who teamed up with him to win the 2003 Australian Open and Wimbledon mixed-doubles crowns.

"I told him whenever he comes back that we'll play again," she had said.

"I was devastated for days. It obviously brings things in perspective. We worry about break points and pulled hamstrings and here he was with the possibility of dying in a short time. That was an eye-opener for everyone I think in the tennis world."

The son of national hockey and basketball players, Vece and Jennifer, becoming a sportsman was a natural transition for Paes.

But the 1.78-metre Paes, who has a slow serve, average groundstrokes and weak backhand, could never really build on his early success which included a junior Wimbledon title in 1990.

He made up for his shortcomings with an athletic volley and a never-say-die attitude and had his moments of glory on the ATP tour, beating Sampras at his prime in New Haven in 1998 and winning his only singles title a few weeks later at Newport.

It was after teaming up with Bhupathi, however, that Paes started surviving till the second week in Grand Slams.

INDIAN EXPRESS

The "Indian Express" of Paes and Bhupathi started their rollercoaster ride together when they realised they had an uncanny court chemistry during a Davis Cup tie in 1996.

They won six Challenger titles that year and, after as many wins on the ATP circuit in 1997, were quickly in the top 10.

The big wins came in 1999, when they became the first pair in almost 50 years to reach the final of all four Grand Slams, winning the French Open and Wimbledon titles along the way.

But just when they were at their prime, the duo ended their partnership due to personal differences.

Their was a brief reunion just before the 2000 Sydney Olympics and they even won their second French Open the following year but a quiet split in 2002 had the ring of finality to it.

Their personal relationship has become considerably warmer since Paes's illness last year and there have been rumours about a possible third coming, keeping the Athens Olympics in mind.

Paes says playing with the vastly experienced Navratilova has motivated him to win more titles. One at the Australian Open would be a perfect thank-you gift for millions of supporters back home.