The combo of Leander Paes and Radek Stepanek captured the US Open trophy with a glorifying victory over Alexander Peya and Bruno Soares in the title clash in Arthur Ashe stadium at New York on Sunday. With this tournament, Leander Paes won his eighth men's doubles Grand Slam title and 14th overall.
Remarkably, the fourth seeded Indo-Czech pair hammered the second seeded Austria-Brazilian partnership by 6-1 in 6-3 in 1 hour and 12 minutes.
Paes and Stepanek won Australian Open last year. This year, the duo entered the US Open with title in Winston Salem Open, as they won their 2nd major event together. Moreover, it was the third US Open title for 40-year-old Paes and the previous two had appeared with Czech partners too. Notably, the Indian won with Martin Damm in 2006 and with Lukas Dlouhy in 2009. It can be remembered that last year at the US Open, Paes had ended up as runner-up with Stepanek, after losing to Bryan brothers.
At present, Paes accomplished 14 major titles, including six mixed doubles trophies. On the other side, Stepanek won two Grand Slam titles, both with Paes. It cannot be ignored that it was one of the most unbalanced US Open title match as Peya and Soares could not make a mark. Amazingly, they did not have any clue regarding how to counter the rampaging Indo-Czech partnership. In addition, Peya needed a medical timeout for a back problem in the second set while trailing 1-3. He was in pain but did not give up and continued to hold his serve in that game. Further, Paes hit a forehand winner to earn the championship point and struck a backhand volley to seal the trophy win.
Paes and Stepanek won 66 points while Peya and Soares won 40. Moreover, Paes acknowledged Stepanek's flexibility as he returned well from a back surgery early this year. Paes commented to find someone from Czech republic that's his advise to anyone who is searching for a doubles partner. He added that they are hard working guys and he has to thank him. Additionally, he had lot of adversities this season, as he came out of injury and surgery and it's amazing to stand here. He has to thank him.
Peya remarked that it is no shame to lose to these guys. Precisely, Peya and Soares managed to hold serve but too many unforced errors only made the job more difficult for them. On the other hand, whatever Paes and Stepanek did, gave them the desired outcome. It is worth mentioning that Stepanek's serve and Paes' net play was splendid. Further, Peya and Soares had two break chances in the first and fifth games in the opening set but couldn’t convert anything.
Unfortunately, the back problem of Peya in the second set reduced the match to a formality as the second seeds failed to challenge their in-form opponents with an injury handicap. Initially, Peya struck a crushing forehand winner to haul a breakpoint in the foremost game but Stepanek served superbly to hold which was followed by complete annihilation of pair. No doubt, Paes and Stepanek raced to a 5-0 lead as they crushed both Peya and Soares easily. In fact, Soares held game number six to save themselves blushes while Paes served out the set in the subsequent game.
