Attempts to sort out the difference between the world's No 1 tennis pair has not yielded the desired results. Paes and Bhupathi have now decided to sit together at the end of current season and decide whether to continue as a team or have different partners on the ATP Tour next year.

The ominious news comes from an unimpeachable source: Dr Vece Paes, Leander's father. ``Leander and Mahesh will probably make a final decision regarding their partnership by the end of November after the ATP World Doubles Championship,'' Dr Paes, told PTI today.

Blaming ``people around them'' for worsening the situation, Dr Vece reluctantly admitted differences between the two star players existed.

The senior Paes said Leander and Bhupathi were mature enough to decide about their future. ``Itis up to both of them to take final decision regarding their pairing,'' he said and added that it would be a sad day for Indian tennis if the two decide to part ways.

Dr Paes, a former hockey international, was categorical in saying: ``If differences are affecting their game and they feel they cannot carry on as a team, they should separate.''

Paes had a word of caution: ``Both have reached a stage where finding good partners will not be difficult, but professionally they should realise the importance of staying together. After all, whatever they have achieved is together.''

The Paes-Bhupathi has been amazing this season. They lost in the final of the season's first Grand Slam -- the Australian Open. They then made history by becoming the first-ever Indians to win a Grand Slam title by annexing the French Open and then followed it up with clinching the prestigious Wimbledon doubles crown.