Paes/Stepanek stun Bryan Brothers to enter semis – Barclays ATP World Tour Finals 2012
Indian-Czech tandem, Leander Paes and Radek Stepanek, upset the top seeded Americans, Bob and Mike Bryan, in a three-set mouth-watering match at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals 2012 on Saturday. They summed up a 6-4, 6-7(6), 10-7 victory against the American
twins to power into the semi-final at this final tournament of the circuit held in London, England.
Seeded third in this event, Paes and Stepanek displayed perfect co-ordination to shock the top doubles team in the world in their seventh encounter. The players last battled each other at the Sony Ericsson Open earlier this season and after stealing this
show, the Indo-Czech tandem lowered trail in the FedEx ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) Head 2 Head Series by 3-4 against Bryans.
Paes commented in a courtside interview after pocketing the match:
"We focus on our side of the net and we keep having fun. Playing with Radek, I've learned so much. It's fun to share things and try new things as a team. I was really, really impressed with the way he volleyed today, and he moved really well."
The Czech reflected about the match in a post match press conference:
"We had two early breaks in the beginning… Then we lost the tie-break in the second set, unluckily. We had nothing to lose; we kept concentrating on our serves and waiting for our opportunities, which came, and we deserved to win today."
Bidding for their fourth year-to-date title, Paes and Stepanek made quick in-roads at The O2 Arena. After the Bryans kept their serve in the opening game, the Indo-Czech duo unleashed their skills and reeled off four games in a row. Despite losing their
serve in the sixth game, Paes and Stepanek remained calm and eventually sealed the opener by winning six games to four.
The high flying Americans, who have bagged seven titles this circuit, re-focused in the following set. They dusted away all four breakpoints they came across to keep their entire serves. Bob and Mike failed to seek any break opportunity but dominated in
the tie-breaker, eventually clicked the equaliser with a 7-6(6) win.
Ranked third in the South African Airways ATP World Tour Doubles Rankings, Paes and Stepanek sought their early rhythm in the deciding set. They edged past the twins and ultimately clinched the super tie-breaker with a 10-7 score line.
Up next for Paes and Stepanek are the fifth seeded Indian junction, Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna, in the final four.
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