Yuki Bhambri and Mahesh Bhupathi combined brilliantly to tame Saketh Myneni and Sanam Singh 6-3, 4-6, 10-5 in the doubles final of the $50,000 ATP Challenger here on Saturday.
It was quite disappointing for Myneni, who dropped serve thrice in the doubles final, after he cruised into the singles final earlier in the day.
However, the 41-year-old Bhupathi stepped up, especially in the super tie-break.
Bhupathi was playing a Challenger at the venue after losing the singles final to Leander Paes in 1999. “I am glad that it is still there,” quipped Bhupathi, when complimented on his winning backhand returns.
He was equally quick to say that Bhambri was a top-100 player and should focus on singles, as there were a lot of expectations on him, when queried about the possibility of partnering him any further.
It was an amazing performance from Sanam and Myneni, the Asian Games silver medallists, as they matched the opponents shot for shot, played with imagination and breathtaking execution.
“I enjoyed competing. Tough to play two friends, especially in a final,” said Bhupathi, who was a class act.
On his part, the 23-year-old Bhambri, quite happy to get quality time on court with a world class partner, after losing the first round in singles, said that it was a privilege for him.
“There is a lot to learn from Mahesh who has won many Grand Slams. It is good to win the title,” said Bhambri, who had finished runner-up to Somdev Devvarman in singles in the last edition when it was a $100,000 event.
“We both returned well. We broke serve 20 times,” said Bhupathi.
“Keep it simple and stay low at the net,” recalled Bhambri, as the advice from Bhupathi.
Myneni, ranked 166, overwhelmed second-seeded Kimmer Coppejans of Belgium, for the loss of five games in the singles semifinals. He served big and it was a matter of time before the Belgian resigned himself to his fate.
Interestingly, Myneni had lost to the same opponent in the quarterfinals last year.
In the final, fourth-seeded Myneni will play third-seeded Stephane Robert of France, who got past Flavio Cipolla of Italy.
There will be 80 ATP points and $7,200 on offer for the singles champion.
The doubles champions received 80 ATP points and $3,100. The runner-up pair won 48 ATP points and $1,800.
The results:
Singles (semifinals): Stephane Robert (Fra) bt Flavio Cipolla (Ita) 6-3, 6-2; Saketh Myneni bt Kimmer Coppejans (Bel) 6-3, 6-2.
Doubles (final): Yuki Bhambri & Mahesh Bhupathi bt Saketh Myneni & Sanam Singh 6-3, 4-6, [10-5].
