Bhupathi, Bopanna reach doubles final

Dubai: The fourth-seeded Indian pair of Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna will meet third seeds Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski of Poland in the doubles final at the Dubai Duty Free Men's Open here today.

Bhupathi and Bopanna won 7-6 (2), 7-6 (7) in a tight encounter against the Austrian pair of Julian Knowle and Alexander Peya after Fyrstenberg and Matkowski dug deep for a 6-4, 3-6, 1-0 (4) win against Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram.

Bhupathi is the lone player among the four who is a former doubles champion here following wins in 1998 with Leander Paes, 2004 with Fabrice Santoro and 2008 with Mark Knowles.

The Indians started off well in the first set, going into a 3-0 lead with a break, only to see their Austrian opponents fight back with a break on Bhupathi's serve in the seventh game and then hold to draw level at 4-4. The set went all the way to the tie-breaker, which the Indians dominated to win 7-2.

In the second set, things were more even as both pairs held serve till the decisive tie-breaker, which again the Indians won, this time 9-7. On Court No 1, it was a stirring fightback from Frystenberg and Matkowski that won them a place in the final.

The third-seeded Poles looked good with a break for a 4-2 cushion, which they maintained to take the set 6-4 in 32 minutes. But Erlich and Ram fought back, taking the second 6-3 to push the encounter into the deciding super tie-break, which the third seeds easily won 10-4.

Results

Doubles

Mahesh Bhupathi/Rohan Bopanna bt Julian Knowle/Alexander Peya 7-6 (2), 7-6 (7); Mariusz Fyrstenberg/Marcin Matkowski bt Jonathan Erlich/Andy Ram 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 (4)