Bhupathi/Bopanna topple Fyrstenberg/Matkowski to capture crown – Dubai Duty Free Championships 2012
Fourth seeds, Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna of India, dumped third seeds Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski 6-4, 3-6, 10-5 in the final at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Saturday.
The Indians overcame Fyrstenberg and Matkowski in an hour and nine minutes.
Both teams made a stable start, holding their serve in the first six games and equalling the score at 3-3. Bhupathi and Bopanna claimed a breakthrough in the seventh and capitalised on it to seal the set 6-4.
The Indian team could not make a mark on their return shots, as they won a mere five of the 24 of them. Though, they served impressively, clinching 15 of the 19 first and five of the nine second delivery points on them. Bhupathi
and Bopanna avoided all the three break threats that come in their way and captured the one chance they received in the opener.
Fyrstenberg and Matkowski looked completely different players from the start of the second set, bagging first three games to go up 3-0. The Poles maintained their advantage till the end, serving it out at 5-3.
The world number 14 team fired two aces and hit one double fault. Fyrstenberg and Matkowski sealed 10 points on both first and second serves. The Polish pair slaughtered their opponents on the returns, winning five of the seven
second ones.
Bhupathi and Bopanna dominated the match tie-breaker from its beginning, racing to a 5-1 lead. Fyrstenberg and Matkowski tried their best to bounce back but the Indians were too strong, closing it 10-5.
The Polish combination was let down by their poor serving show in the match tie-breaker. They committed two double faults and hit just 38 percent of the first deliveries, winning only one of the five second serve points.
Bopanna said, while giving interview to the media people, "It's my first ATP [World Tour] 500 title. This is great, and obviously it's great to play with Mahesh. All that 17 years of experience on court I think really helps in
those close matches and these big moments. It's a good opportunity for me to play with him, alongside him. I couldn't have asked for anything better than winning this title."
Bhupathi said, about the huge support from the crowd they received, "It's amazing. It's even better than playing at home, because the stadium here is bigger than Chennai. For me, fortunately, it's my fifth final I think and it's
always like this on Saturday.”
This was Bhupathi and Bopanna’s first team title on the ATP World Tour.
Tags: