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Back on track India's Bhupathi, Paes win second doubles title in Paris
Updated: Saturday June 09, 2001 3:01 PM
PARIS (Reuters) -- Unseeded Indian pair Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi won their second French Open doubles title on Saturday with a 7-6 6-3 victory over 13th seeds Petr Pala and Pavel Vizner. The triumph marked a perfect turnaround for the Indians after a separation last year. "It is great to be back together... and winning," said Bhupathi after their victory. "We were 5-2 down in that first set and it was a great effort to turn it around." The former world No. 1 duo were back to their top form as they saw off the Czechs on Centre Court. Bhupathi and Paes, known as Indian Express on the circuit, won the title at Roland Garros in 1999 when they became the first pair in more than 45 years to reach the finals of all four Grand Slams in the same year and also won the Wimbledon crown. They finished the season as the world's top-ranked pair but 2000 was tumultuous for them. Battling injury and personal problems they split early in the year before getting back together again just before the Sydney Olympics, where they lost in the second round. Bhupathi became the first Indian to win a Grand Slam title in 1997, partnering Japan's Rika Hiraki in the French Open mixed doubles. Saturday's doubles crown is the pair's 19th title together. It was their third doubles triumph this year after wins in Atlanta and Houston. "We have been playing well, getting some good results and to win another French Open title is amazing," Paes said.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. |
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