Mahesh Bhupathi gets 1st pro title

Mahesh Bhupathi gets 1st pro title

JAKARTA (JP): Indian Mahesh Bhupathi emulated Julius Cesar's
victorious campaign of veni vidi vici at the Indonesia Men's
Challenger tennis championships yesterday, outlasting a weary
Igor Saric of Croatia 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 for his first pro title.

Bhupathi, an amateur player, had to battle through qualifying
rounds to win a place in the main draw. The 20-year-old student
of business management at the University of Mississippi, the
U.S., was the one who salvaged Indian tennis pride yesterday,
following top seeded Leander Paes' unexpected retirement in the
semifinals due to digestive problems.

"I was happy just to enter the main draw as a matter of fact.
But I have performed well all week here," said an elated Bhupathi
who received the winner's US$7,250 check.

Playing on the hard court of Kemayoran tennis complex, world
number 437 Bhupathi, who is not ranked at home, tamed his big
serving opponent during a number of long rallies.

After a superb performance in the opening set, Bhupathi looked
destined to win when he broke Saric's service for a 4-2 lead in
the second set.

But the Indian quickly lost his grip and committed a number of
unforced errors. His two-hand backhand returns twice landed in
the net to allow his first broken service. A double fault by the
Indian gave Saric the equalizer before storming away to a second
set win.

Bhupathi dropped another service as he started the decider
with three unforced errors in a row. He appeared to give up as
Saric soared to a 4-2 lead. The Indian, however, fought back by
taking the net at every opportunity.

Saric struggled to save his service in the third game, but his
luck ran out in the fifth. Bhupathi had Saric running here and
there with lob and short cut combinations, before the Croatian
completely ran out of steam.

"I was too tired after the hard-fought semifinal yesterday
(Saturday)," said Saric, whose dream of a first career title was
dashed in the process. Saric will have to make do with the $4,240
runner-up cash prize.

Bhupathi did not break a sweat in Saturday's all-Indian
semifinal against doubles partner Paes.

Paes joined the crowd yesterday, but opted to give the English
pair of Andrew Foster and Danny Sapsford a walk over win in the
doubles final.

The Kemayoran tennis complex was packed with more than 200
students and military, the highest number of the tournament's
crowd, who were specially invited by the organizers. (amd)