Leander Paes, recovering from a brain lesion, on Tuesday opted out of the 400,000-dollar ATP Indian Open to be played in Madras next week.

Paes told organisers he will not accept the wildcard for the singles, nor team up with compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi in the doubles of the January 5-11 season-opener.

"I was looking forward to play in the Indian Open, but now it looks like it will be the Australian Open that will herald my comeback," Paes said in a release issued from his home in Orlando, in the US state Florida.

"I have already talked on this with Mahesh. I have been practicing hard for tournaments lined up in the season starting January next. I am disappointed to postpone my return and realise that it is a long and hard road back to the professional circuit. "Five months off the circuit is a long time in this competitive sport but I am sure that I want to come and compete at the higher echelons of the game," Paes said.

The 30-year-old, who was diagnosed with a brain lesion in August after complaining of severe headaches, had hoped to resume his playing career in his own country's annual premier event.

Paes, one of the leading doubles players on the circuit, partnered Martina Navratilova to the mixed doubles title at Wimbledon this year to add to their mixed doubles title at the Australian Open in January.

Paes has won 27 men's doubles titles, his triumphs in the 1999 and 2001 French Opens and the 1999 Wimbledon with now estranged partner Bhupathi.

The duo had said they would