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Bhupathi back to winning ways

Shailesh Soni

Mahesh Bhupathi won his first ATP tournament after his comeback from injury in the company of Andrew Kratzmann, at the $400,000 St.Poelten ATP tournament.

Bhupathi and Kratzmann defeated the unseeded Italian pair of Andrea Gaudenzi and Diego Nargiso 7-6(10), 6-7(2), 6-4.

There was a one-hour rain delay in the middle, but that did not stop Mahesh from picking up his 16th title - - the first with somebody other than Paes - - on the ATP Tour.

Mahesh had a bit of a score to settle with the Italians as it was the same pair that beat him and Syed Fazaluddin in the Davis Cup in Italy in March 1998.

The win gives Hesh 175 more points and will move him a couple of spots in the doubles rankings, closer to the top 10. Bhupathi and Kratzmann will share $28.5,000 for the title.