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Regular-article-logo Wednesday, 10 June 2026

PAES-BHUPATHI ENDS 6-MONTH TITLE DROUGHT 

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Staff Reporter Published 30.04.01, 12:00 AM
Calcutta, April 30 :    Calcutta, April 30:  Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi are back among titles. According to information received here, the fourth-seeded Indian pair conquered top seeds Rick Leach and David MacPherson 6-3, 7-6 (9-7) yesterday to capture the Atlanta Challenge crown. In winning their 17th title as a team, Paes and Bhupathi didn't drop a set in four matches. It fetched them a cheque for $26,650 and 175 points. Having won their last title way back in October (Japan Open in Tokyo), it was high time the once invincible pair delivered. Having started the year with a semi-final showing in Chennai, Paes and Bhupathi had suffered four first-round defeats including the one at the Australian Open. Only last week, at the Monte Carlo Masters Series, did they show some decent form - winning three matches before bowing to top seeds Todd Woodbridge and Jonas Bjorkman in the semis. This week, they had it all their way though the field was not as strong as the one in Monte Carlo. The Atlanta triumph pushed the Indian duo (113 points) from No. 19 to 15 in team rankings - a far cry from 1999 when they were on top for nearly six months. Woodbridge and Bjorkman, the current runaway leaders, have a staggering tally of over 4,000 points. In the individual doubles rankings, Bhupathi is No. 29 (1825 points) and Paes 59th (1099 points). Woodbridge leads with 5890 points, followed by Bjorkman (3955). Roddick's first Reuters adds from Duluth: Teenaged American Andy Roddick won the singles championship with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Belgian Xavier Malisse. The 18-year-old is the first American teenager to win an ATP title since Michael Chang won in San Francisco nine years ago. Roddick took his first ATP title in his 10th tournament, faster than any American for at least 15 years and quicker than Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi or Chang. Roddick said those comparisons held no special meaning for him. 'I respect those players, and they're great champions and they're still my heroes,' Roddick said. 'But I'm not trying to bring up the rear. I'm trying to do my own thing.'    
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