Indian tandem dismisses Fyrstenberg-Matkowski with 6-4, 3-6, 1-0 (5) upset victory
Mahesh Bhupathi (right) embraces Rohan Bopanna after beating Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski in the men’s doubles final of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship.
Image Credit: Hadrian Hernandez/Gulf News
Dubai:
The experience of Mahesh Bhupathi helped hand new teammate Rohan Bopanna a perfect birthday gift as the Indian duo powered their way to a 6-4, 3-6 1-0 (5) upset win over third seeds Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski in the Dubai Duty Free Men’s Open doubles final here yesterday.
Bopanna, who celebrates his 32nd birthday today, was thrilled at making an entry into the big league with their first ATP World Tour title.
“I have never won an ATP 500 doubles, so this is going to be a special one for me,” Bopanna said.
The Indians started off well with a break on Fyrstenberg’s serve in the seventh game, which just enough to hand them the first set 6-4 in a little over half an hour.
“This is our first final together and definitely we were a little jittery out there,” Bhupathi admitted.
“But I think we played the big points well and that made the difference,” the 37-year-old added.
In the second set, the Polish pair got stronger, especially Matkowski, with some great first serves to dominate the Indians, and a break on Bopanna’s serve in the second game handed them the set 6-3 and pushed the encounter into the deciding super match tie-break
The Indians were off to the best of starts in the tie-break as they raced into an early 5-1 lead, which they ultimately went on to win 10-5 and claim their first-ever doubles title after coming together only this season.
Strong favourites
Going in as strong favourites on the merit of being the third seeds, Frystenberg and Matkowski were playing in their 32nd ATP World Tour doubles final, while it was a maiden appearance for Bhupathi and Bopanna.
Bhupathi is the only player from the two pairs who has won the doubles in Dubai, though with different partners — in 1998 with Leander Paes, in 2004 with Fabrice Santoro and in 2008 with Mark Knowles.
source: http://www.GulfNews.com / Sports,Tennis / by Alaric Gomes / Senior Reporter / March 04th, 2012
