Tennis is my first love, passion: Bhupathi

Flush with success following the Wimbledon triumph, doubles specialist Mahesh Bhupathi says teen sensation Sania Mirza could one day be his mixed doubles partner.

"There is no reason to say that Sania and I can't play together. She is a very exciting player who showed a lot of resolve and steel at Wimbledon," Bhupathi said, when asked if he would consider teaming up with her.

Making her maiden appearance at Wimbledon Centre Court, Mirza put up an excellent performance before going down to fifth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova in a three-setter.

"Sania's temperament is her strength. For someone making her debut on Centre Court, she didn't show any nerves. She has come up very well and she is young," Bhupathi, who won the mixed doubles title at Wimbledon with France's Mary Pierce, said.

But for now Bhupathi has set his mind on partnering Pierce.

He said he is also looking forward to playing the U.S. Open with Pierce, provided "she remained healthy because injuries have been a concern for her".

"Also, her priority is singles. If she stays healthy, we will play together at the U.S. Open."

Bhupathi, who runs a sports management company, GloboSport, was in Kolkata for on Tuesday to inspect the preparation made for the September WTA tournament.

Though busy with organising two annual WTA tourneys in India and managing GloboSport, Bhupathi said he never compromises with his tennis.

"Some people were saying, 'he is lot more into business than tennis'. But the truth is tennis is my first love, passion."

"Every Grand Slam is special. The victory at Wimbledon was very special and most satisfying as it came after a couple of years," said Bhupathi, a former world doubles number one who has won eight Grand Slam titles.

Bhupathi last won a major -- the U.S. Open doubles title -- in 2002, prompting his detractors to question his commitment.

Bhupathi along with compatriot Leander Paes -- the pair was ranked men's world number one in 1999 -- are India's best known tennis faces.

The duo won three men's Grand Slam doubles titles before breaking up in April 2002.

"My goal now is to win 10 Grand Slam titles. After Wimbledon, I'm a step closer to that goal," Bhupathi said, adding he would play doubles the rest of the year with world doubles number 13 Martin Damm of the Czech Republic.