New Delhi: India’s Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna came close to creating history when they reached the final of ATP World Tour, but lost to sixth seeds Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez 7-5, 3-6, 10/3 in a thrilling encounter at London's O2 Arena. However despite a successful year behind them, the Indians revealed that would be playing with different partners from next year.

Bopanna will play with American Rajeev Ram, while Bhupathi will be partnering Canadian Daniel Nestor.

It was the fifth time 38-year-old Bhupathi had lost in the final. But the duo, who won the Paris Masters earlier this month, won't be able to have another run at the title next year after Bopanna confirmed they have decided to split.

Bopanna said that he would be playing with Rajeev Ram next year. “He comes to the tournament in Chennai every year. Just maybe a few days before Chennai we're going to start.”

"Tennis wise, we've had a great two weeks and can't complain about that. I'm happy to take all the positives from the tennis tour and now look forward to the new partnership coming up."

"I played with Mahesh in 2012 with a special focus on preparing for the London Olympics and now that it's over, I want to concentrate on the ATP circuit and I am eager to build a strong, sustainable partnership," Bopanna said about his decision.

Bhupathi added: "There were times in the year where, you know, the pundits of Indian tennis threw us under the bus, said that we're not good enough, said that these guys are jokers. But we believed in ourselves. We've beaten all the top teams there are to beat. We came through with flying colors, which I think is credit to us at the end of the day."

By Indian Sports News Network