Paes (sr) was eagerly awaiting Leander's phone call from Wimbledon. ``He had promised to call us after the match. We are trying to keep the phone free for him to reach us,'' last night.

``We have not yet told him about Cuddles' death as he was very fond of the dog which was staying with us for the last 14 years. The news would have upset him. I have to break the unpleasant news to him. I'm afraid he will be very disappointed.''

Vece Paes, a former hockey Olympian, was disappointed that Doordarshan did not telecast the entire match live depriving Indian tennis fans from watching the historic moment.

In Bangalore, Mahesh's mother Meera was following the game on the Internet while her friends were alsokeeping her regularly informed. She too was expecting a call from Mahesh and her husband, who was also in Wimbledon.

While DD played spoilsport, tributes flowed from the highest quarters for the Indian tandem.

``They have done the country proud,'' said President KR Narayanan and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. ``Their victory, coming close on the heels of winning the French Open title, proves they are indeed the best in the world, added the President.

``They are the best pair in the world. I admire the way they have gone about their matches throughout the championship and they have exhibited tremendous guts,'' eulogised Indian tennis legend Ramanathan Krishnan.