Bopanna-Jeeven clinch all-India final
CHENNAI: It was a historic final for India. For the first time in the history of the ATP Chennai Open, two Indian teams were contesting the doubles summit clash. No matter the result, the crown would stay at home.
The last time an Indian pair won the title was back in 2011, when Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi did the honours. On Sunday evening at the SDAT Stadium it was the turn of Rohan Bopanna and Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan. The unseeded pair conquered Purav Raja and Divij Sharan, winning 6-3 6-4.
While Bopanna and Jeevan were pairing for only the second time, Sharan and Raja have become regulars on the Tour and have two ATP 250 titles together. Last season was spectacular for them, and playing the first event of 2017, they had hoped to begin on a winning note.
But it was not to be. It was their first loss as a team in an ATP 250 final. Jeevan, who has only three doubles Challengers titles over the last two years on his resume, won his maiden ATP Tour event thanks to Bopanna’s partnership. “I have to thank Rohan for giving me this opportunity,” he had said.
In an eagerly-awaited match, home boy Jeevan had the maximum crowd support.
Every winner was greeted with loud cheers while unforced errors saw groans echoing. Bopanna and Jeevan built a 3-0 lead in the first set. But, Sharan and Raja are not the team to throw in the towel. They started clawing their way back and even managed to break Bopanna in the fifth game. But, once they equalised 3-3, the left-handed Jeevan refused to let his serve be broken to give a 4-3 lead. Raja failed to hold serve next up which gave the big-serving Bopanna the opportunity to serve out the first set.
Sharan and Raja took the initial lead in the second, going up 2-0. But it was evident the duo was struggling to finish points despite many chances. Bopanna and Jeevan capitalised on their unforced errors and won four games in a row to go up 4-2.
That was a crucial lead as after that the set went on serve. Serving for the championship at 5-4, it was again world No 28 Bopanna’s turn to step up. He didn’t disappoint. With his trademark booming serves, he closed out the match when Raja erred on a forehand return.