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Love in Tokyo

Mahesh Bhupathi and Ai Sugiyama with the 1999 US Open mixed double title Photo Courtesy: United States Tennis Association

Mahesh Bhupathi's love affair with Japan continued into the US Open, as he paired Ai Sugiyama to a mixed doubles title triumph.

Earlier, in 1997, Bhupathi had paired Rika Hiraki to the mixed doubles title at the French Open. Subsequently, posters of the pair became a hot-selling item in Japan, the sales fuelled by rumours, since disproved, of a romantic liaison between the two.

The Tokyo-born Ai Sugiyama became the first Japanese woman to win a US Open title, as she in tandem with Bhupathi defeated Americans Kimberly Po and Donald Johnson 6-4, 6-4.

The match started on Johnson's serve, and went with serve till 4-all in the first set. In the 9th game, Johnson was broken on serve and Bhupathi promptly served out the set in the 10th.

In the second set, it was Po's turn to drop serve, as early as the 3rd game, thanks to some blistering returns from Bhupathi directed at the server's feet. From then on, games went with serve with Bhupathi, again, serving out the set and match.

Mahesh Bhupathi and Ai Sugiyama in action during the US Open mixed double finals Photo Courtesy: United States Tennis Association

Sugiyama did have problems with serve throughout the game, but Bhupathi was in brilliant form and with his help, she managed to hold on. The problem was most evident in the 8th game of the second set, when Sugiyama faced break point 5 times but managed to hang on. By contrast, Bhupathi served superbly throughout, till the last game of the match when he was taken to deuce thrice. However, he saved each break point with an ace, before finally closing the game out.

Besides being able to save eight break points during the game, the Bhupathi-Sugiyama pair showed good understanding on the big points, playing the rallies very well. Bhupathi showed a high success percentage in his net play, besides producing some spectacular returns of serve. In fact, the second seeded pair dropped just one set throughout the tournament.

"I like to think of it as my power and her touch," said Bhupathi of their doubles combination.

Bhupathi and Sugiyama also played in the French Open this year, where they were seeded second. They reached the semifinals before falling to eventual champions Katarina Srebotnik and Piet Norval.

The two split the winner's check of $124,000, while Po and Johnson took home an aggregate of $61,000.