Top seeds Leander Paes and Lukas Dlouhy combined to win their first ATP team title with a 6-4, 7-6(4) victory over Americans Scott Lipsky and David Martin at the Thailand Open in Bangkok on Sunday.
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The Czech-Indian duo fired five aces and converted two of four break points to secure the victory in an hour and 16 minutes.
Individually, the 35-year-old Paes has now won 40 ATP doubles titles, while Dlouhy, 10 years his junior, has compiled five. It is the second title in Bangkok for Paes, who also triumphed in 2005 with Paul Hanley (d. Erlich-Ram).
On winning his latest title, Paes said: "It is special and I think that one of the things I like to do is see my partner win a lot more. This is the challenge for me because I know if he's winning I'm winning too. I'm trying to step up Lukas; this is the fifth one that he's won, so now I'm trying to step up his wins because then mine will go up automatically."
"It's always special stepping on the court with Lukas because not only does he complement my style of playing but he's also teaching me things," commented Paes.
"It's interesting that, after playing for so many years, to have a partner who's also teaching me a few things is really beautiful."
Earlier this month, Paes won the mixed doubles title at the US Open partnering Zimbabwe's Cara Black. He and Dlouhy lost in the men's doubles final to American twins Mike and Bob Bryan.
Courtesy: ATPtennis.com
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