Paes/ Bhupati fail to break jinx

It was too good to last. The Afro-American combine of Norval and Johnson played awesome tennis to walk away with the World Tennis Doubles Championship on Sunday afternoon.

The event had reached its crescendo what with the Lee & Hesh pair reaching the finals of the championship. The crowds had swelled to large numbers hoping to watch the rejuvenated Indian duo wipe away all that has been said and done this year by clinching the title that's deserted them twice before. The duo managed to reach the finals of the World Doubles Championships in 97 and 99 to finish second best on both occasions.

Paes and Bhupati

The jinx continued as they crashed to a straight sets defeat to Piet Norval and Donald Johnson 6-7, 3-6, 4-6 in 138 minutes.

"They outplayed us," said Paes who seemed off colour despite some great cross-court volleys.

In the past three games, despite the Hesh/Lee duo losing the first point they went on to win the match.

The first set started on just the right note for the spectators to feel that they were getting their money's worth when Johnson was broken in the very first game.

In the fourth game Paes' serve deserted him and with three break points staring them in the face, Leander lost his cool. He and Hesh realised how important it was to hold on to that early break when Norval/Johnson broke back at two games all.

"The first set was pivotal," said Enrico Piperno, Mahesh's coach after the match. No one could agree with that more than Lee & Hesh though they felt that they were outplayed by a better team and the quality of returns made all the difference.

In the 5th game, the Indians had the best possible chance to hit back when Paes played an exquisite lob to get the advantage only for Mahesh to miss an easy volley.

Mahesh and Paes played a superb sixth game when Mahesh put in two great smashes to let the adrenaline flow. Paes followed suit with a great passing shot to the left of Johnson sending the crowd into a tizzy.

At that moment it looked like the camaraderie, the friendship was back, at least within that netted domain, as they egged each other on.

The next was an easy service game for Johnson and Mahesh respectively as they both levelled at 5-5.

Norval and Johnson

At 5-6, on Paes service game the Indians played an incredible volley game exhibiting their great reflexes, a must in the doubles game. Paes finished it off with a great shot aimed at Norval's body and we knew where that shot came from as Paes gesticulated towards his heart with a punch.

And followed the tiebreak with both teams locked at 6 games apiece. The tiebreak provided the point of the match when Paes played an unbelievable return volley which ricocheted of the net and bounced in the Indian pairs court domain. Paes made an impossible hard angled shot, which touched the Johnson's racquet on its way out of the court.

But that was not enough to waive off the assault by the Afro-American pair as they kept coming at the Indians and eventually took the set 7-6 (10-8). The set lasted for 62 minutes and took its toll on the Indians who haven't really played a five-setter in a long while together, as pointed out by Piperno.

The second set seemed belonged to the Norval/Johnson duo that had amazingly consistent 70 per cent first serves compared to the Indians who managed about 40 per cent.

Hesh was broken at 2-2 in the fifth game and that was probably the last nail in the coffin for the p/b pair who just lost the plot after that. Their shoulders drooped after the 32 minute second set and they were never really in the game from then on.

There was something amiss and it was evident. The way Paes pokes the court with his right foot waiting for the right time to get his serve timed was not there anymore. The rhythm was gone and it showed.

The Indian duo got too defensive in the third set overplaying the lobs and just giving in without a fight. The Indians needed a big point at that stage in the third set, a point earned together to just give them the boost they need at that moment. It came their way but they failed to exchange the currency.

Norval and Johnson

In the fifth game of what was to be the final set, Hesh/Lee had a great chance to break at 15-40 but Bhupathi just couldn't get his topspin lob right and the chance was missed. Bhupathi in a fit of sarcasm seemed unimpressed by a scream just when he was about to serve.

Bhupathi served at 4-5 with the score reading 15-40 after putting an easy lob into the net. Paes saved the first match point with a great overhead smash. Paes poaches on the second match point and get s cross-court perfectly in place.

It's deuce and Bhupathi nets the next volley to face another match point and on his second serve to Johnson nets the ball to give the Norval/Johnson the Championship point.

Always the bridesmaid never the bride. The Word Doubles Championship jinx continues for Lee/Hesh.

Paes congratulated Mahesh after the match saying, "I congratulate Mahesh after what we have been through this year."

Paes conceded that the quality of tennis was very high and they lost to the better team. "We went off the boil, their returns were better and I think that made the difference," he added.

"Playing in the day made a lot of difference. I couldn't see the ball. There were too many shadows. They were prepared for the final much better than we were," said Bhupathi.

A point reiterated by Norval who said that his previous semi-final game at three in the afternoon was the ideal build-up to the final.

"We knew they were going to struggle playing in the afternoon. Also the fact that Don is left-handed helped because he didn't have to serve into the sun and then hit blind volleys," said Norval, the South-African from the city of Cape Town.

Paes pointed out that they didn't handle the I formation well and playing in the afternoon did make it difficult to adjust to the serves and the lobs.

The positive side of the tournament was that Paes stated that he hoped to start the New Year with Mahesh on a positive note.

"We haven't had a big win all year. This event stands out because it's the biggest tournament for doubles what with the best eight sides in the world competing barring the Woodies," added Paes.

Piperno said that he knew that it wasn't going to be an easy match. But a year ago they would have closed the game in four sets.

"They have shown positive signs and the results will only show in 6-8 months. At least they are on the right track, " he added.