Mahesh Bhupathi gets 1st pro title<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indian Mahesh Bhupathi emulated Julius Cesar's
\nvictorious campaign of veni vidi vici at the Indonesia Men's
\nChallenger tennis championships yesterday, outlasting a weary
\nIgor Saric of Croatia 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 for his first pro title.<\/p>\n
Bhupathi, an amateur player, had to battle through qualifying
\nrounds to win a place in the main draw. The 20-year-old student
\nof business management at the University of Mississippi, the
\nU.S., was the one who salvaged Indian tennis pride yesterday,
\nfollowing top seeded Leander Paes' unexpected retirement in the
\nsemifinals due to digestive problems.<\/p>\n
\"I was happy just to enter the main draw as a matter of fact.
\nBut I have performed well all week here,\" said an elated Bhupathi
\nwho received the winner's US$7,250 check.<\/p>\n
Playing on the hard court of Kemayoran tennis complex, world
\nnumber 437 Bhupathi, who is not ranked at home, tamed his big
\nserving opponent during a number of long rallies.<\/p>\n
After a superb performance in the opening set, Bhupathi looked
\ndestined to win when he broke Saric's service for a 4-2 lead in
\nthe second set.<\/p>\n
But the Indian quickly lost his grip and committed a number of
\nunforced errors. His two-hand backhand returns twice landed in
\nthe net to allow his first broken service. A double fault by the
\nIndian gave Saric the equalizer before storming away to a second
\nset win.<\/p>\n
Bhupathi dropped another service as he started the decider
\nwith three unforced errors in a row. He appeared to give up as
\nSaric soared to a 4-2 lead. The Indian, however, fought back by
\ntaking the net at every opportunity.<\/p>\n
Saric struggled to save his service in the third game, but his
\nluck ran out in the fifth. Bhupathi had Saric running here and
\nthere with lob and short cut combinations, before the Croatian
\ncompletely ran out of steam.<\/p>\n
\"I was too tired after the hard-fought semifinal yesterday
\n(Saturday),\" said Saric, whose dream of a first career title was
\ndashed in the process. Saric will have to make do with the $4,240
\nrunner-up cash prize.<\/p>\n
Bhupathi did not break a sweat in Saturday's all-Indian
\nsemifinal against doubles partner Paes.<\/p>\n
Paes joined the crowd yesterday, but opted to give the English
\npair of Andrew Foster and Danny Sapsford a walk over win in the
\ndoubles final.<\/p>\n
The Kemayoran tennis complex was packed with more than 200
\nstudents and military, the highest number of the tournament's
\ncrowd, who were specially invited by the organizers. (amd)<\/p>",
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