My best year, says Paes, who claimed his tenth Grand Slam title with doubles win over Bhupathi
My best year, says Paes, who claimed his tenth Grand Slam title with doubles win over BhupathiIndia's Leander Paes and Czech Lukas Dlouhy won the US Open men's doubles title yesterday by defeating India's Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles of Bahamas 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.
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Mate, we have done it: Leander Peas celebrates with partner Lukas Dlouhy their US Open doubles triumph against Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles at the Flushing Meadows late last night. pic/AFP |
Fourth seeds Paes and Dlouhy claimed their second Grand Slam crown after capturing the French Open title earlier this year. They lost to the US duo of Mike and Bob Bryan in last year's US Open final. "This is possibly the best year I've ever had on the tour," Paes said. This was Paes' tenth Grand Slam title (six doubles, four mixed doubles). He also claimed bragging rights in the rivalry against former partner Bhupathi, edging ahead 10-9 in matches when they have been on opposite sides of the net. They split in 2000 but reunite for their homeland in Olympics and Davis Cups.
Their only prior head-to-head match-up in a final came in 2004 at Dubai with Bhupathi winning, but Paes owns a 3-1 edge in Grand Slam meetings, one in each Slam event.
In the third set, Knowles surrendered a break to put Paes and Dlouhy up 2-1 and the Indian veteran fought off three break points to hold for a 3-1 edge.
Paes and Dlouhy broke Knowles again in the seventh game and Paes held at love for the victory, ending matters with an ace after two hours and three minutes, then jumping into Dlouhy's arms for a victory celebration hug.
"Today's match was a really high quality. A high-class match," Paes said. "Well done."
But Paes revealed post-match that he was not certain he could even play due to a shoulder injury suffered 10 days earlier in mixed doubles.
"When I woke up I didn't know if I could get through the match, there was so much pain," Paes said. "But I knew it was my job to endure the pain and be steady."
Paes and Dlouhy have been together 15 months and Dlouhy was happy to win after two runner-up US Open doubles runs before.
"It's a great feeling to win it and to play with him on the same side," said Dlouhy. Paes won his 41st career doubles crown and fifth Slam title after taking the 1999 and 2001 French Opens and the 1999 Wimbledon crown with Bhupathi and Roland Garros this year with Dlouhy.
Third seeds Bhupathi and Knowles were denied their first Slam title together. Bhupathi owns four Slam doubles crowns, three with Paes and the 2002 US Open with Max Mirnyi of Belarus.
Paes was broken twice in the first set to power Bhupathi and Knowles to take it and when Dlouhy was broken to open the second set and Bhupathi-Knowles held to lead 2-0, they seemed poised to break open the match.
Instead, Paes and Dlouhy battled back. Paes swatted a forehand winner to break and equalize 2-2 and Bhupathi surrendered a break by sending a forehand volley long to give Paes and Dlouhy a 4-2 edge on the way to forcing a third set.
