Paes-Bhupathi face-off in US Open men’s doubles final (Lead)
September 10th, 2009 - 12:41 pm ICT by IANSNew York, Sep 10 (IANS) The US Open men’s doubles final will see estranged Indian partners Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhutpahi facing each other. It is the first time the two players, who won three slams together, will be up against each other in a Grand Slam.
Bhupathi and Mark Knowles of the Bahamas, seeded third, won 6-4, 6-2 against the fifth seeded pair of Belarussian Max Mirnyi and Israeli Andy Ram in the semi-final.
In the other semi-final earlier, the fourth seeded pair of Paes and Lukas Dlouhy of the Czech Republic overcame a stiff challenge from top-seeded American twins Bob and Mike Bryan 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (8-6) and avenged their defeat in the title-round here last year.
Paes and Dlouhy held their nerves in the tense decider to pull off a thrilling match in an hour and 51 minutes. The deciding set lasted 55 minutes with Paes and Dlouhy wasting a match point in the 10th game off left-hander Bob’s serve.
Dlouhy struggled with his serve initially in the third set. He was down 0-40 in the first game, but managed to hold after saving three break points in the game that stretched to 16 points.
Bob and Mike served strong and won three straight service games at love to level 3-3. Paes’ service was under attack in the seventh game and he had to ward off four break points to hold after being down 0-40.
The Indo-Czech pair had a match point at 5-4 on Bob’s serve, but could not convert and the set went to the tie-breaker.
Paes and Dlouhy raced to a 5-0 lead in the tie-breaker, before Bob and Mike fought back. The Americans saved four match points at 6-2 to draw level. Finally Paes and Dlouhy wrapped it up in their sixth match point with Paes showing great reflexes at the net and putting away a volley.
For Bhupathi and Knowles it wasn’t a tough task and the duo took 76 minutes to wrap up the match in straight sets.
Paes, who won the title here in 2006 partnering Martin Damm, entered the US Open title round for the fifth time. He has also advanced in the mixed doubles final here with Zimbabwean Cara Black.
- US Open: Paes, Dlouhy upset Bryan brothers to enter doubles final - Sep 10, 2009
- Paes-Stepanek in finals, Mahesh-Bhupathi out - Mar 30, 2012
- Paes-Bhupathi shock World No.1 Bryans in Cincinnati - Aug 21, 2011
- Paes, Dlouhy in US Open doubles final - Sep 10, 2009
- Lee-Hesh win to stay alive in World Tour finals doubles - Nov 24, 2011
- Bhupathi and Paes crash out of ATP World Tour finals - Nov 27, 2011
- French Open: Paes in mixed doubles quarters, exits from doubles - May 28, 2011
- Paes-Stepanek shock Bryan brothers; lift Australian Open men's doubles title (Lead) - Jan 28, 2012
- French Open: Paes on course for his 12th Grand Slam - Jun 03, 2010
- Sweet victory: Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi clinch Cincinnati title (Lead) - Aug 22, 2011
- Paes wins Wimbledon mixed doubles for 12th Grand Slam (Lead) - Jul 05, 2010
- Wimbledon: Paes-Bhupathi crash out in second round - Jun 25, 2011
- Paes pockets 50th doubles title with Miami win - Apr 01, 2012
- Paes-Stepanek storm into final of Australian Open - Jan 26, 2012
- Paes-Stepanek crash out of Monaco Masters - Apr 21, 2012
Tags: andy ram, bob and mike, bob and mike bryan, break points, dlouhy, grand slam, indian partners, leander paes, left hander, mark knowles, martin damm, match point, match points, max mirnyi, open men, service games, stiff challenge, three slams, tie breaker, york sep