Paes-Bhupathi live up to top billing

DUBAI, Feb 15: Top seeds Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi won the doubles title in the one million dollar Dubai Tennis Open with an emphatic...

DUBAI, Feb 15: Top seeds Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi won the doubles title in the one million dollar Dubai Tennis Open with an emphatic 6-2, 7-5 over the second-seeded American pair of Don Johnson and Francisco Montana here tonight.

Except for a short while in the second set, when the Americans staged a brief comeback, Paes and Bhupathi were in total control of the match from the word go.

Paes excelled at the net and came up with some brilliant volleys and passing shots. Bhupathi served and returned well today and hit some superb backhand shots.

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Johnson and Montana failed to combine well and left huge gaps on either flank, which the Indians continuously exploited. Montana managed some good interceptions at the net once in a while.

Paes and Bhupathi got two early breaks in the first set to go ahead 5-1.

In the eighth game, the Americans had a chance to break the Indians and saved two set points but Paes and Bhupathi finally took the set at 6-2.

The Indians broke Johnson in the very first gameof the second set and were leading 3-1 at one stage. The Americans broke Paes to make it 4-4 and then went ahead to 5-4 before the Indians levelled again. The Indians broke Montana to take the lead at 6-5 and then saved three break points in the next game before romping home 7-5.