New York, Sep 14: India’s Leander Paes claimed his 10th Grand Slam title when he and Czech Republic’s Lukas Dlouhy made a remarkable comeback to beat Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles of Bahamas at the US Open men]s doubles final here.
Paes and Dlouhy won the thrilling final 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 in a match that stretched to two hours. The 36-year-old Paes, who lost in the finals of the mixed doubles while pertnering Zimbabwean Cara Black, overcame a sore shoulder to ensure that he goes home with at lease one title. “I’m a little numb at the moment because it’s just been a mammoth effort over the past two weeks,” Paes said. Paes and Dlouhy were beaten by Bryan twins Bob and Mike in the title clash here in 2008, but they avenged their defeat in the semi-finals this year. This was Paes’ sixth men’s doubles title and 10th overall in 19 final appearances. Paes also got the upper hand on Bhupathi, his longtime former partner. Facing off for a 19th time since splitting up in 2000, Paes edged ahead 10-9. The two were meting each other in a Grand Slam final for the first time. Paes has reached 11 Grand Slam men’s doubles finals. Paes and Dlouhy won their first Grand Slam title together at the French Open this year. Bhupathi and Knowles made the better start, breaking Paes in the second game of the first set. The lead was short lived, Knowles getting broken for 2-2. At the ensuing changeover, he needed attention from the trainer. “I didn’t hold serve once in the whole first set,” Paes said. “I was struggling to win points.” Bhupathi and Knowles, who teamed up in 2008, kept it going early in the second. Dlouhy appeared to be coasting on serve, up 40-15. But Bhupathi and Knowles won the next three points, and a wonderful backhand return by Bhupathi helped set up the break. When Bhupathi held at love, making it eight straight points, it seemed to be all over, especially when Paes double faulted to begin the third game. But Paes held and then they broke, and went up 3-2.
Paes flashed his brilliant return game, slicing backhands cross-court and floating forehands down the line. Four break points came and went, but on the fifth, Bhupathi cracked. The seesaw battle continued, Paes broken to love, only for Knowles to drop serve on a missed backhand volley by Bhupathi. In the third set Dlouhy and Paes broke their opponents twice. Bhupathi and Knowles had their last real chance in the fourth game on the susceptible Paes serve. Manufacturing three break points, Bhupathi missed a comfortable forehand on one and a routine backhand on another. Bhupathi and Knowles were then broken for the sixth time in the match.
Bhupathi and Knowles, both former No. 1 in doubles, are still waiting for their first major together. Sunday’s defeat looked similar to their loss in the Australian Open final, when they led the Bryan brothers by a set but couldn't apply the knockout punch. But as Bhupathi pointed out, maybe the duo was lucky simply to get this far. Knowles, like Paes, was wounded, playing with stitches on his finger. He cut the finger after holding open an elevator last week. (IANS)
Paes and Dlouhy won the thrilling final 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 in a match that stretched to two hours. The 36-year-old Paes, who lost in the finals of the mixed doubles while pertnering Zimbabwean Cara Black, overcame a sore shoulder to ensure that he goes home with at lease one title. “I’m a little numb at the moment because it’s just been a mammoth effort over the past two weeks,” Paes said. Paes and Dlouhy were beaten by Bryan twins Bob and Mike in the title clash here in 2008, but they avenged their defeat in the semi-finals this year. This was Paes’ sixth men’s doubles title and 10th overall in 19 final appearances. Paes also got the upper hand on Bhupathi, his longtime former partner. Facing off for a 19th time since splitting up in 2000, Paes edged ahead 10-9. The two were meting each other in a Grand Slam final for the first time. Paes has reached 11 Grand Slam men’s doubles finals. Paes and Dlouhy won their first Grand Slam title together at the French Open this year. Bhupathi and Knowles made the better start, breaking Paes in the second game of the first set. The lead was short lived, Knowles getting broken for 2-2. At the ensuing changeover, he needed attention from the trainer. “I didn’t hold serve once in the whole first set,” Paes said. “I was struggling to win points.” Bhupathi and Knowles, who teamed up in 2008, kept it going early in the second. Dlouhy appeared to be coasting on serve, up 40-15. But Bhupathi and Knowles won the next three points, and a wonderful backhand return by Bhupathi helped set up the break. When Bhupathi held at love, making it eight straight points, it seemed to be all over, especially when Paes double faulted to begin the third game. But Paes held and then they broke, and went up 3-2.
Paes flashed his brilliant return game, slicing backhands cross-court and floating forehands down the line. Four break points came and went, but on the fifth, Bhupathi cracked. The seesaw battle continued, Paes broken to love, only for Knowles to drop serve on a missed backhand volley by Bhupathi. In the third set Dlouhy and Paes broke their opponents twice. Bhupathi and Knowles had their last real chance in the fourth game on the susceptible Paes serve. Manufacturing three break points, Bhupathi missed a comfortable forehand on one and a routine backhand on another. Bhupathi and Knowles were then broken for the sixth time in the match.
Bhupathi and Knowles, both former No. 1 in doubles, are still waiting for their first major together. Sunday’s defeat looked similar to their loss in the Australian Open final, when they led the Bryan brothers by a set but couldn't apply the knockout punch. But as Bhupathi pointed out, maybe the duo was lucky simply to get this far. Knowles, like Paes, was wounded, playing with stitches on his finger. He cut the finger after holding open an elevator last week. (IANS)
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