Many are familiar with the phrase "You're only as young as you feel." In the tennis world, 41-year-old Leander Paes is living that edict.

At the French Open on Wednesday, Paes hit a career milestone when he won his 700th doubles match. The achievement came with his 99th career partner, 42-year-old Daniel Nestor. The middle-aged, 10th-seeded duo defeated Australians James Duckworth and Chris Guccione 6-2, 5-7, 7-5 in the first round.

"We'll keep Danny [Nestor] around for a while," said Paes, laughing. "But, for sure, there's something nice in store for Nos. 100 and 101."

After nearly a quarter of a century in the game, Paes is as enthusiastic about tennis as if he was a budding star rather than a former world No. 1. Overall, the Indian native captured 55 doubles titles, eight of them at the Grand Slams. He won his last Grand Slam doubles trophy at the 2013 US Open with Radek Stepanek to become the only 40-year-old in history to win a Grand Slam doubles title. There's also seven mixed doubles titles, the latest with Martina Hingis at the Australian Open this year. And if all that doesn't sound remarkable enough, let's not forget he won the 1996 Olympic bronze medal in singles.

Although Paes didn't name names, he confirmed there are some teammates among his vast collection that stand out more than others.

"I think I definitely do have favorites," he said. "Obviously, as athletes when you win a Grand Slam or do something big, especially when you play with someone for two, three years, you build such a bond and a friendship with them, and that's what's important."

Paes credits Venezuelan Nicolas Pereira, with whom he played his first ATP career final at the 1995 New Haven tournament, for a dramatic change in how he plays doubles.

"It was a crazy cracker of a story," said Paes, also engaging Nestor with the tale. "I used to play the ad court before Nico, so I walked on the court with him that first time and he goes, 'Lee, you're playing the deuce court.' I said, 'Dude, I'm an ad court player.' He went, 'You see my backhand? You see your backhand? I'm playing the ad court.'"

After the New Haven week ended, Pereira left Paes with a stern message: "You never play the ad court ever again in your life." For the most part he's taken Pereira's words to heart.

And, oh, as for that future partner No. 100, rumor has it Paes is hoping to court a really famous guy. Does anyone know the name Roger Federer?