Mahesh Bhupathi has done it again. After all the controversies regarding the Davis Cup and the apparent opposition letter against his one time Indian Doubles partner Leander Paes, Bhupathi is back doing what he does best and that is winning doubles title, this time in the Dubai Open.
Fourth seeds Mahesh Bhupathi of India and Mark Knowles of the Bahamas picked up their second title in as many weeks with a 7-5, 7-6 (7) win over third seeds Martin Damm and Pavel Vizner at the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships yesterday.
Both pairs were chasing their second ATP title of the season. Damm and Vizner won last month in Marseille, while Bhupathi and Knowles were fresh from their win in Memphis last weekend.
The match was the closest it could get with Bhupathi and Knowles gelling well to keep Damm and Vizner at bay. The Czechs had the first chance to break in the 11th game on Knowles' serve. But Knowles held and then broke on Vizner's serve to win the set 7-5 in 42 minutes.
The second set was even closer with the tie-break the only way out after some exciting tennis on centre court. The Czechs had the upper hand in the tie-breaker, but Bhupathi and Knowles complemented each other well to win 9-7.
Bhupathi won the Dubai title in 1998 and 2004, while Knowles previously triumphed here in 2002.
Bhupathi and Knowles have won their last eight matches in straight sets, and this was the 49th doubles title for Knowles, while Bhupathi picked up his 43rd career crown.
Both pairs were chasing their second ATP title of the season. Damm and Vizner won last month in Marseille, while Bhupathi and Knowles were fresh from their win in Memphis last weekend.
The match was the closest it could get with Bhupathi and Knowles gelling well to keep Damm and Vizner at bay. The Czechs had the first chance to break in the 11th game on Knowles' serve. But Knowles held and then broke on Vizner's serve to win the set 7-5 in 42 minutes.
The second set was even closer with the tie-break the only way out after some exciting tennis on centre court. The Czechs had the upper hand in the tie-breaker, but Bhupathi and Knowles complemented each other well to win 9-7.
Bhupathi won the Dubai title in 1998 and 2004, while Knowles previously triumphed here in 2002.
Bhupathi and Knowles have won their last eight matches in straight sets, and this was the 49th doubles title for Knowles, while Bhupathi picked up his 43rd career crown.
