New York, Sep 14 (Inditop.com) India’s Leander Paes claimed his 10th Grand Slam title when he and Czech Republic’s Lukas Dlouhy staged a remarkable turnaround to beat compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles of Bahamas 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the US Open men’s doubles final here.
The 36-year-old Paes, who lost the mixed doubles final partnering Zimbabwean Cara Black, had hurt his elbow earlier in the tournament and was nursing a sore shoulder, arm and triceps Sunday.
“I’m a little numb at the moment because it’s just been a mammoth effort over the past two weeks,” Paes said. “Every time I touched the ball there was so much pain that I did not believe that I could actually go through the match and finish.”
“This is the best year I’ve ever had on tour,” said the Indian, who now has six men’s doubles titles.
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 the first time Paes was meeting his former longtime partner Bhupathi in a Grand Slam final. The two were facing each other for the 19th time since splitting up in 2000, with Paes leading 10-9 in the head-to-head record.
Paes has reached 11 Grand Slam men’s doubles finals. His first title came in the French Open in 1999 along with Bhupathi and the two went on to win two more titles – Wimbledon in 1999 and French Open 2001 – before parting 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’ when Bhupathi and Mark Knowles ran away with the first set. But 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. He stepped up to the plate and said, ‘I’m going to do it’.”
Dlouhy said they could make a strong comeback because they combined 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 broke Paes in the second game of the first set. However, the lead was shortlived, with Knowles getting broken for 2-2. At the ensuing changeover, Paes needed attention from the trainer.
Paes dropped his serve again in the sixth game and Knowles consolidated the break by holding his serve for a 5-2 lead. Bhupathi then served out the first set.
“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, carried the momentum early in the second set. Dlouhy appeared to be coasting on serve, up 40-15 in the first game. But Bhupathi and Knowles won the next three points, and a superb 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 for Paes and Dlouhy, especially when the Indian double-faulted to begin the third game.
But Paes held and then they broke to go 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.
Paes couldn’t hide his delight seconds after converting the 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.
In the junior section, top seeded Indian Yuki Bhambri bowed out after losing to American Chase Buchanan 3-6, 6-7 (4) in the quarterfinals.
rounak