Bhupathi, Paes restore French connection

By Nirmal Shekar

CHENNAI, JUNE 9. Authoring a fairytale climax to a miraculous comeback, India's Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes reinvented themselves as world-beaters on a balmy Parisian evening here today.

The former world No. 1 team, playing here as an unseeded pair, mastered the big points like bingo to beat Petr Pala and Pavel Vizner of the Czech Republic 7-6(5), 6-3 in the men's doubles final of the French Open.

The victory gave the Indians their first Grand Slam title in two years. They had won their maiden Grand Slam title here in 1999, a year in which they also won the Wimbledon crown and went on to figure in all the four Grand Slam finals.

``This is very, very special. We believed in ourselves. If we played to our potential, we knew we could beat anybody.'' said Paes, a bronze medalist at the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996.

There was no doubt that Bhupathi and Paes were the favourites going into the final. But the Czech pair played with such confidence and skills that the Indians were on the back foot in the early phase of the match.

Down 3-5, things looked rather bleak for Bhupathi and Paes. But, as they had done time after time in their epoch-making season in 1999, the Indian pair played its best tennis when the chips were down.

After breaking serve to 4-5 and then levelling at 5-5, the Indians dominated the tiebreak to nose ahead. But the Czechs came back strongly to take an early break in the second set and it appeared that Bhupathi and Paes had their work cut out.

But, once again, the Indians hit back in the face of adversity as they broke back to 2-2. From there Bhupathi and Paes were on the cruise mode as they raced through to the finish in style.

``They were tough players. It wasn't easy. But we fought well when we had to,'' said Paes. ``This is just the sort of triumph we need to get back to the top.''

Back in 1999, when they played in four successive Grand Slam finals, Bhupathi and Paes had had to battle back from the brink time and again, especially at Wimbledon.

And tonight, as they did two years ago, the Indian pair showed perfect understanding as they complemented each other's skills as only world beaters can.

The French Open success caps one of the most remarkable comebacks at the international level in the history of Indian sport. For the most part of last year, Team BP - Bhupathi and Paes - seemed history.

But with the extraordinary spirit of born champions, the two gifted Indians have not only rediscovered their passion for team tennis but, more importantly, they have yet again given the game in India a huge morale boost.

``Wherever we play, we know we are playing for India. And that is a great feeling. It is nice to bring another title back to India,'' said Paes, than whom a greater patriot Indian sport has not seen.

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