It was mixed feeling for Indian spectators present at the stadium to watch the US Open men’s doubles final on Friday. Good because Indian tennis players Leander Paes and Radek Stepanek ended up as the runner-up but then, they could have been the winners if had not suffered straight sets defeat at the hands of Americans Bob and Mike Bryan.

Second seeded Bryan brothers defeated the fifth-seeded Indo-Czech combo 6-3, 6-4 to win their fourth US Open title. It was time of double celebration for the Bryan brother as the 12th Grand Slam triumph tied them with Australians John Newcombe and Tony Roche as the most successful doubles combination in the Grand Slams.

It was a rematch of their clash in the Australian Open final, won 7-6, 6-2 by Paes and Stepanek, who have won four Grand Slam titles together. The Bryans, winners of 81 doubles titles including 12 Grand Slam crowns, beat the ninth-seeds Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi of Pakistan and Jean-Julien Rojer of the Netherlands 6-3, 6-4 in their semifinal on Thursday.

Paes, who has seven Grand Slam titles, and Stepanek of the Czech Republic advanced past Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez when the Spanish duo were forced to retire with the first set tied 6-6 because of a left leg injury to Lopez.

Well, heartiest congratulations to Leander Paes for making Indian proud again and as far as Grand Slam trophy is concerned, better luck next time!

Source: TNN