While the Indian contingent (Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi, Sania Mirza and Sunitha Rao) start their Olympic campaign on August 11, Stephen and Mustafa will be pairing up at a challenger in Istanbul and then playing the Italy challengers in Manerbio and Como the following weeks.
"Musty and I are pretty much best friends and have a lot in common including good results together. We believe that the way to do it is to stick with one partner so we have given it this summer in Europe together," Amritraj told the Indian Tennis Blog.Last month, he reached the doubles semifinals of Challenger tournaments at Rimini (with Mustafa Ghouse) and Medjugorje (with Matwe Middelkoop).
Getting good results in doubles means Stephen ends up missing singles qualifiers for the following week's events, thus forcing him to put his singles career on the backburner.
"I want to play singles when I can, but it isn't my top priority right now just because of goals and financial status," the 24-year-old said.
While cousin Prakash is currently India's highest-ranked tennis player, Stephen is ranked a lowly 1622 (as on July 28) in singles. But he's ranked 285 in doubles, 44 rungs short of a career-high he achieved in November 2007.
Last year, Stephen won four doubles trophies -- at the Kaohsiung challenger in Taiwan and three Futures events. At the very least, he'll have to match that performance to move into the Top 200.
It won't be easy, considering Stephen is yet to salvage his career from a clutch of injuries sustained over the years.
On February 16, 2003, while still a student at Duke University, Amritraj injured his knee while playing Mark Henderson. Rehabilitation after surgery forced him off the courts for three months.
Two years later, during his last match at college, Stephen tore ligaments in his knee. The result -- more time spent at the hospital.
"I have had three surgeries on my knees...and this has hampered my movement on slippery surfaces and has hurt in long, grinding matches," Amritraj said.
In May this year, just before the Carson challenger in the US, Stephen took a fall and broke it with his left hand, injuring his wrist.
"Basically played a whole month with just a one-handed chip backhand. I took a cortisone shot and went to Europe but after eight weeks, it's worn off so I have needed rest and therapy from time to time," he said.
That's also one of the reasons he won't be playing anywhere the coming week.
Amritraj, who grew up in the Californian city of Calabasas, is skipping both the challenger events in New Delhi, a decision he arrived at after changing his mind "at least four times each week".
"(I was) pretty much expecting to win both and nothing less, especially the second one because no one will stick around for doubles and my record last year against other Indians was something like 27-3."
After losing their opening match at the Graz challenger in Austria, Stephen and Mustafa opted to take a fortnight off before they rejoin the Tour in Istanbul.
ALSO READ
Karan Rastogi to resume playing Tour events in 2009
Somdev Devvarman wins at Lexington, his fourth title in a row
May take Sania Mirza weeks to get back killer forehand
Somdev Devvarman misses out on ACC player honour
In the final, Bhupathi and Knowles proved too good for Thai twins Sanchai and Sonchat Ratiwatana, triumphing 7-6(5), 6-2 in one hour and 16 minutes.
Wildcard Rohan Bopanna, at 244 the highest ranked Indian in singles, was our best hope and he almost made it. But it was Frenchman Nicolas Devilder who prevailed 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (11-9) after saving three matchpoints.
Update: Ghouse and Rastogi lost to the British pair of James Auckland and Ross Hutchins 2-6, 6-3, 3-10 in a first round match on Centre Court that lasted an hour and 14 minutes.
Compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi had better luck. He and Serbia's Nenad Zimonjic, seeded sixth here, got past Russia's Igor Kunitsyn and Dmitry Tursunov in straight sets 6-3,7-5. 
Jamie, the older brother of Britain's number one Andy Murray, is an accomplished doubles player in his own right having won three tournaments this season in partnership with American Eric Butorac.
Paes should know. He and Mahesh Bhupathi were one of the best doubles pairs ever and even after their infamous split the Indian duo have won several titles in partnership with other players.
The facile win gave Bhupathi his second doubles title this season and 41st overall. The title at New Haven comes 10 years after he first triumphed there in partnership with Leander Paes.
