New York, Sep 14 (Inditop.com) 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. His first title came in the French Open in 1999 along with Bhupathi. He went on to win two more titles with Bhupathi (Wimbledon 1999) and French Open (2001) before India’s most successful doubles combination parted ways.
Paes had to wait for five years for his next men’s doubles title which came here at US Open with Martin Damm in 2006.
He then forged a successful combination with Dlouhy. The pair reached the final at Flushing Meadows in 2008, but lost to the Bryan brothers Bob and Mike.
Paes and Dlouhy won their first Grand Slam title together at the French Open this year.
For the second consecutive year, Paes was lined up for a doubles’ double at US Open. He won the mixed doubles title in 2008.
That too looked like slipping away from Paes’ grasp when Bhupathi and Mark Knowles looked in complete charge in the first set.
Paes and Dlouhy rallied to turn the tables.
“I just have to say I’m blessed with a great partner like Lukas,” said Paes. “He seems to play on the big moments. That’s the important part, when you have a partner that recognises I was injured and I was hurting. He stepped up to the plate and said, `I’m going to do it’.”
Dlouhy said that they could make a strong comeback because they combine very well.
“We were like fired up, and we were playing well and like a team,” Dlouhy said. “Doesn’t matter if I play good or he’s playing good. We won it like a team.”
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.
That was that, and another break was insurance. Paes couldn’t hide his delight seconds after match point, jumping into the arms of Dlouhy.
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.
rounak