US Open: Paes-Raymond beaten in mixed doubles final

Leander Paes and his American partner Lisa Raymond were beaten in the US Open 2001 mixed doubles championship by the top seeded Aussie pair of Todd Woodbridge and Rennae Stubbs 4-6, 7-5, 6-7(9-11) despite the heroics of Paes and a late resurgence by an otherwise off-colour Raymond.

Though the first six games of the first set went with serve, Paes came under pressure as Raymond struggled to hold her serve.

In the seventh game, the Aussie pair broke Raymond's serve to take a 4-3 lead.

Stubbs then held serve before she and Woodbridge got three break points on Paes' serve.

Despite the pressure, Paes ultimately managed to save the game with some deep serving and athletic volleying.

But Woodbridge took the next game without much ado to wrap up the first set.

The second set went in much the same fashion with the first eleven games going with serve.

However, Paes and Raymond were just not able to put any pressure on Stubbs's serve leave alone that of Woodbridge.

By the fifth game, the Aussies had had seven break points and converted one while their second seeded opponents had managed to just five points off their rivals' serve.

By the sixth game, Raymond began to raise her game visibly easing the pressure on Paes who began to play a little more freely and aggressively.

In the 12th game, with Stubbs serving at 5-6, Paes and Raymond finally got their fist break point and promptly converted it to level the match and take it to the newly introduced first team to reach 10 championship tie-break.

In the tie-break, both sides had two breaks apiece until 8-8 when Paes served deep and Stubbs returned long to give the Indian-American pair their first championship point (9-8).

Woodbridge however managed to save it and the Aussies then bagged their first championship point with Raymond serving.

Woodbridge then broke Raymond to seal the title.

The organisers had earlier announced that the final would be a two setter with, if needed, a super tie-breaker (first team to reach 10 with a difference of 2 point). This was apparently done to get the match on prime time on television at night, and then start the men's featured match at least by 8.30 pm.

PTI adds: "It feels great. It's very special because Rennae and I have been playing at the same junior tournaments since we're eight years old. It's very special because we spent so much time together," said Woodbridge, who holds a total of 13 Grand Slam titles in the men's doubles.

Stubbs came on top her long-time women's doubles partner Raymond, with whom she won this year's Wimbledon title. The two play in a women's doubles semifinal against Cara Black and Elena Likhovtseva on Friday.

"It was strange to play her. We've only played against each other once before, we knew exactly where we're at," said Raymond. "I'm glad we didn't have to play the third set. Now I can go home and prepare for my semis."

Stubbs and Paes only played in doubles at this US Open, while Woodbridge failed to qualify for the men's singles and Raymond was eliminated in the third of the women's singles, falling to Venus Williams.