Sania switched to doubles in 2013 after undergoing three surgeries due to various injuries she suffered.
"I think she had one good year of singles and I would really personally have liked her to continue play singles. She was not only talented but she also had the aggressive attitude. You have a couple of bad years here and there, you do have injuries. I like people to play singles and that is where your excellence shows," he told reporters here at the launch of his Champions Tennis League (CTL).
"Doubles is fantastic but people when they start the game they don't start doubles, they want to excel in singles. I would have loved to see Sania to do it. But I think she has brought an incredible amount of inspiration to sports lovers in the country not just tennis also sports and not just women but everyone," he added.
Asked why not many singles players are coming up in India, the 60-year old said the game has become very physical and Indians are not built that way.
"What has been extremely impressive has been Kei Nishikori's performance and what he has done with the size he is. It needs even more work, even more commitment, and try to develop the kind of physicality that tennis needs today.
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