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Bhupathi and Santoro Win Auckland Doubles
Fabrice Santoro of France and Mahesh Bhupathi of India, the top seeds in
the Heineken Open doubles tournament, won a superb three-set final
against Jiri Novak and Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic, 4-6 7-5
6-3.
The first time pairing looked out for the count at 4-6 and 3-5 down in
the second set.
"With Fabrice's return of serve it is unwise to write us off," said
Bhupathi.
They were pushed all the way, but had the class when it mattered. When
the Czechs went a set up, it looked as if the two matches Santoro and
Bhupathi had played on Friday were catching up with them.
"I think we got better and better during the week," said Santoro.
The Czechs had known they were finalists since Thursday, whereas Santoro
and Bhupathi had to play a quarter and a semi the next day because of an
ill-timed rain delay.
Santoro's deft crosscourt returns (using the pace of both opponents'
serves against them)began to annoy the Czechs. Whereas before they had
been able to bludgeon the smaller men, now they found themselves being
out-manoeuvred with touch and superior reflexes.
The victory was Bhupathi's 32 career doubles title and Santoro's fifth.
"It was a pleasure to have someone like Fabrice on my side with all his
dinks, cuts and things. We were playing better ever match," said
Bhupathi aged 29.who will be in the Indian Davis Cup squad to play New
Zealand in Invercargill on Waitangi weekend.
They fought bravely against the turning tide, but lost the second set
5-7 and by the time Bhupathi and Santoro broke in the decider the
writing was on the wall. Now the net-cords and close calls were going
the top seeds' way as well, and a close dramatic finish never
eventuated.
The vital break in the third set came in the second game as Novak had
his serve broken in a long game. Bhupathi and Santoro then held to go to
a 3-0 lead.
From then on each pair held their serve with Bhupathi and Paes
eventually winning 6-3.
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