Leander paes steps it up with another challenger title
Leander Paes in partnership with Miguel Angel Reyes-Varela of Mexico won the doubles title in the $125,000 Challenger tennis tournament in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
The second-seeded Indo-Mexican pair beat Ariel Behar of Uruguay and Roberto Quiroz of Ecuador 4-6, 6-3, 10-5 in the final.
The title was worth 110 ATP points and $7,750. The runners-up collected 65 points and $4,500.
It was the second Challenger title of the season for the 45-year-old Leander who had won the earlier title in Newport with James Cerretani of the US.
In his illustrious career, Leander has won 54 doubles titles in the professional circuit including eight Grand Slam titles in men’s doubles, apart from 26 Challenger doubles titles and 11 Challenger singles titles. He had also won the Tour event in Newport. Of course, he also won 10 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles.
Interestingly, Leander has won at least won one title every year for the last 27 years, since he won his first Challenger title in 1992.
Leander will continue with Miguel Angel in the $686,080 ATP Tour event in Antwerp, Belgium, this week.
The Indo-Mexican combination will open against the fourth seeds Divij Sharan in partnership with Artem Sitak of New Zealand.
Yuki Bhambri will also be returning to the circuit after the US Open, with a singles first round against Roberto Carballes Baena of Spain in the hard court event in Belgium.
Meanwhile, in the Challenger in Italy, Purav Raja in partnership with Antonio Sancic of Croatia was beaten in the doubles final by hte fourth seeds Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen of Belgium 10-3 in the super tie-break.
The champions collected 80 ATP points and € 3,950 while the runners-up got 48 points and €2,350.
The results:
$125,000 Challenger men, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Doubles (final): Miguel Angel Reyes-Varela (Mex) & Leander Paes bt Ariel Bhear (Uru) & Roberto Quiroz (Ecu) 4-6, 6-3, [10-5].
€ 64,000 Challenger men, Ortisei, Italy
Doubles (final): Sander Gille & Joran Vliegen (Bel) bt Antonio Sancic (Cro) & Purav Raja 3-6, 6-3, [10-3].
