A LANDMARK WIN: The triumph in Paris is Asiam Qureshi’s and Rohan Bopanna’s first Masters title. AFP
PARIS, November 13th, 2011
Maiden Paris Masters for Roger Federer
Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi won their first ever ATP Masters tournament beating Julien Benneteau and Nicolas Mahut 6-2, 6-4 in the final here on Sunday.
The seventh-seeded pair took just 65 minutes to see off the French wildcards and pocket its third title of the season. Bopanna and Qureshi had won the Gerry Weber Open at Halle and the Stockholm Open before this event.
Bopanna and Qureshi broke in the third and fifth games to open up a 4-1 lead.
They were twice 0-30 on serve, but held on to close the set out.
Benneteau and Mahut, who had shocked top seeds Mike and Bob Bryan en route the final, gave a better account of themselves in the second set.
At 4-4, Mahut’s double-fault offered Bopanna and Qureshi a break point, which they gratefully accepted.
They then served the match out in the next game despite a few anxious moments.
One-sided final
Meanwhile, Roger Federer won the singles title for the first time here by defeating Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-1, 7-6(3) in a one-sided final.
It was the Swiss star’s third tournament win of the year after Doha in January and his Basel hometown event last week.
It was also his 18th Masters title win, second only to Rafael Nadal who has won 19 times, and the 69th title of his career.
“This is the realisation of a dream for me and it’s been so long that I have been waiting for it,” said Federer, after receiving the Paris Masters trophy from French basketball star Tony Parker.
“Honestly, I am surprised myself at just how well I am playing.”
The win makes Federer just the second player after Andre Agassi to win both the French Open at Roland Garros, which he took in 2009, and the Paris Bercy title.
The results: Final: Roger Federer bt Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-1, 7-6(3).
Semifinals: Jo Wilfried Tsonga bt John Isner 3-6, 7-6(1), 7-6(3).
Doubles: Final: Rohan Bopanna & Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi bt Julien Benneteau & Nicolas Mahut 6-2, 6-4.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / AGENICES / AFP/ Sports> Tennis/ November 1th, 2011
