Paes-Bhupathi assured of No 1 spot

New Delhi, Nov 16: Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi begin the year's season-ending event tomorrow -- the prestigious ATP doubles Champion...

New Delhi, Nov 16: Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi begin the year’s season-ending event tomorrow — the prestigious ATP doubles Championship at the Hartford Civil Centre. The eight teams making the championships this year are: 1 Mahesh Bhupathi/ Leander Paes (Ind, 3650 points); 2 Todd Woodbridge/ Mark Woodforde (Aus, 2609); 3 Ellis Ferreira (RSA)/ Rick Leach (US, 2395); 4 Sebastien Lareau (Can)/ Alex O’Brien (US, 2367); 5 David Adams / John-Laffnie De Jager (RSA, 2249); 6 Wayne Black (Zim)/ Sandon Stolle (Aus, 2096); 7 Paul Haarhuis (Ned)/ Jared Palmer (US, 1982); 8 Piet Norval/ Kevin Ulyett (RSA, 1787).

According to points, the Swedish-Aussie combination of Jonas Bjorkman and Patrick Rafter are the No 6 team, but they are not playing at Hartford due to Rafter’s shoulder injury.

The Indians will finish the year as number one for the first time, irrespective of how they perform at Hartford. In 1997, they lost in the final to Leach and Stark, in 1998 they lost two league matches and then pulled out due to Paes’ foot injury. They go into the 1999 version with the knowledge that their ranking will remain intact, but with little practice together since their US Open final loss in September. Both Paes and Bhupathi (especially Bhupathi) have been troubled by some injury or the other in the last few months. Yet, going into a big situation with hardly any tune-up is not a new thing for them, and it would be nice if they finished the year on a winning note.

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The top two teams are placed in two round robin groups of four teams. Similarly, teams placed at three and four, five and six and seven and eight each have a draw which places them in either group.

Each team plays the other three teams in their group — one match each over three days — starting Wednesday. The top two teams in each group advance to the semi-final. Ties will be broken based on sets won, followed by games won.

There are 90 points each for each round robin win ($19,500 prize money for the winning pair to share — no money for the losing team), 180 points for a semifinal win ($40,000 money for winners) and 270 points for the final win ($70,000 for the winners). The maximum points any team can gain is 720. The draw will be released on Tuesday.