Sport - Tennis   

Paes helps Navratilova create history

By Our Tennis Correspondent

YOUNG & OLD STRIKE GOLD: Martina Navratilova of the U.S. and India's Leander Paes pose with their trophies after claiming the mixed doubles title on Sunday. — Reuters

London July 6. The legend and the heroic Indian fighter pulled it off on the greatest tennis stage in the world, casting a gilt edged twilight on the final moments of the 117th Wimbledon championships on Sunday.

Playing their second mixed doubles Grand Slam final this year, Leander Paes and Martina Navratilova outmatched Andy Ram of Israel and Anastassia Rodionova of Russia 6-3, 6-3 on the centre court in the last match of the championships.

The pair won £88,500 and Paes share is worth over Rs. 33 lakhs. Paes and Navratilova had won their first title together at Melbourne last January, in the Australian Open.

Today, playing the final a few hours after their semifinal victory in the afternoon, Paes and Navratilova found the early break in the first set and wrapped it up by breaking Ram's serve in the ninth. In the second, the crucial break came on Rodionova's serve in the fourth game.

The success saw Navratilova tie with Billie Jean King for the most number of Wimbledon titles at 20. The great lady has won nine singles, seven doubles and four mixed doubles.

"I can't think, I can't talk, I am like Federer a few hours ago", said Navratilova. "My last title came eight years ago and this is great".

For Paes, it is his second Wimbledon mixed doubles title. He won his first with Lisa Raymond in 1999. "To be on the centre court here with a legend and to win is a dream come true for me", said Paes.

Earlier, on the No.1 court, the 46 year old woman and her 30 year old Indian partner played their best tennis of the tournament in the face of adversity to beat Leos Friedl of the Czech Republic and Liezel Huber of South Africa 7-5, 6-4 in the semifinals.

Mirza-Kleybanova pair

wins girls' doubles

India's Sania Mirza, playing with the talented Russian Alisa Kleybanova, won the girls doubles title earlier in the day. The Indo-Russian pair fought back to beat Katerina Bohmova of the Czech Republic and Micheala Krajicek of the Netherlands 2-6, 6-3, 6-2.

After a poor start, Mirza and Kleybanova pulled themselves together to play some wonderfully confident tennis which was never more impressive than in the decider.

"I am thrilled. This is great. I am going to party,'' said Sania.

Sania, it would appear, is the first Indian woman to win a title here. Rita Davar, the only other Indian appearing on the honour rolls of finalists, had lost in three sets in the 1952 girls singles final.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

Cricket

• Streak bowls his heart out, but England reaches final
• Hodge, Sehwag to Leicestershire's rescue
• Badani takes India `A' to victory
  
  Tennis
  
• `Temple of sport'
• A dream come true for Mirzas
• The Roger Reign begins at Wimbledon...
• Paes helps Navratilova create history
  
  Chess
  
• Sasikiran outplays Humpy
• Dortmund tourney from July 30
  
  Golf
  
• Woods increases lead
  
  Racing : Motor
  
• Tendulkar blazes the track too
• Ralf Schumacher does it again
  
  Sports : General
  
• Recommendations to streamline Olympics
  
  Squash
  
• Ritwik triumphs
  
  Volleyball
  
• India shocks Brazil
  
  

Copyright © 2003, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu