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Good week for Indian tennis

The week gone by was good for Indian tennis, despite Leander Paes and Nirupama Vaidyanathan falling in the French Open qualifiers.

Four titles came Indian players' way, with Mahesh Bhupathi winning the St.Poelten doubles crown, Megha Vakharia the ITF singles title in Pune, the Venkatraman sisters, Archana and Arthie, the doubles title in the same ITF tournament in Pune, and Manisha Malhotra, the doubles title at El Paso. That's the most by Indians in any week in recent years.

Manisha Malhotra, pairing with Leanne Baker of New Zealand, defeated Kaysee Smashey and Varalee Sureephong of the United State 6-2, 7-6(2) to win the title at the Terry Walker Memorial $10,000 USTA Women's Satellite, played at El Paso.

The title gave Manisha five WTA points. Manisha started at 780 in the world 18 months ago. Now she's at 330.

In the singles at the same event, she went down in the quarter-finals to her friend and doubles partner Leanne Baker, 6-4, 6-7(5)- 4-6. Manisha got 1.5 WTA singles points form the tournament.