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UNITED NEWS OF INDIA
MELBOURNE, JAN 22: Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi are still in running for their first Grand Slam doubles title. But only just. They came within a heartbeat of elimination in their second-round match against Americans Doug Flack and Mark Merklein before winning 4-6 6-4 8-6 in two hours, nine minutes today.
The win was all the more remarkable because Paes and Bhupathi, both, were playing far below their best.
Twice in the final set, it all seemed over. First, when Bhupathi was broken in the ninth game, after saving two double-faults. Merklein then just had to hold serve to finish the top-ranked pair. But Paes-Bhupathi rose magnificently to the defence of their status and he was broken. Five-all. Incredibly, the Indians let the advantage slip and Paes dropped his next service game.
Flach-Merklein were once again four points from an upset win. Surely, the Indians could not repeat their feat of two games ago. But indeed they did, much to the delight, and relief, of the usual, cheering crowd of Indianexpats at Melbourne Park. This time they broke Flach, and, continued with some magical play, both at the net and from behind. Bhupathi held at 30 for 7-6 and then Merklein was broken, for the second time in five games, when Paes volleyed away a winner with a leap and a scream.
Paes said after the match: ``It's good to come through such a match. And it's good coming together as a team. That's what will build us up for the future.''
Poor net play, and some erratic returning, was what cost them the first set in just over 40 minutes, with Paes getting broken twice.
How the seeds fared
Men singles (3rd round): Thomas Enqvist (Swed) bt 3-Pat Rafter 6-4 4-6 6-4 6-4; Marc Rosset (Swiss) bt 6-Tim Henman 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 7-5; 7-Karol Kucera (Slovak) bt Marat Safin (Russ) 6-2 6-3 6-2; 14-Mark Philippoussis (Aus) bt Jan Kroslak (Slovak) 3-6 6-3 6-4 6-1
Men Doubles (2nd round): 1-Leander Paes & Mahesh Bhupathi bt Doug Flack & Mark Merklein 4-6 6-4 8-6; 2-Todd Woodbridge & Mark Woodforde bt ScottDraper & Lleyton Hewitt 6-2 6-4; Nicklas Kulti & Mikael Tillstrom bt 3-Mark Knowles & Daniel Nestor 6-4 5-7 6-4; 10-Yevgeny Kafelnikov & Daniel Vacek bt Jiri Novak & David Riki 6-3 7-6 (7/0) 9-7.
Other Third Round Results
Men: Andrew Ilie (Aus) bt Christian Ruud (Norw) 6-2 6-2 6-4; Bohdan Ulihrach (Czech) bt Jeff Tarango (US) 1-6 6-3 6-2 6-3;
Women: Amelie Mauresmo (Fran) beat Nicole Pratt (Aus) 6-3 6-3; Maureen Drake (Can) bt Sylvia Plischke (Aus) 6-2 6-2.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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