Mumbai Open- The Final Wrap-Up
The Beginning Of A New Dream

Two days have passed after the country’s biggest Tennis Tournament, as it is described, is over. Then why I am writing here?

It’s a note to look back at what had happened over the last fortnight.

It’s a note to look at what we have got and what not.

It’s a note to look forward at a future that every Tennis Fan, especially an Indian one, wants to see shining brightly.

After Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Kolkata, it was Mumbai’s turn to host a Tennis Feast. Unlike these Cities and some other places like Pune, which have some Tennis culture, Mumbai the epicentre of Media and the Financial Capital of India has been on a backtrack. The reason may be because mainly cricket rules here. This was ruled out by the Indo-Pak Davis Cup tie and the City’s hidden passion for the game of Tennis came into light with recently concluded Kingfisher Airlines ATP Mumbai Open.

The tournament is a hit here. Of course, not as big hit as ICC Championship Trophy, still a hit one. No, don’t judge by the low crowds during the first few days. Whatever crowds we had were real Tennis-passionates. They came even though it was a week of Navaratri, and when ‘Dnadia’ was pulling huge masses, and even when it’s Ramadan going on. The fact shows that the City-mad-for-Cricket has some madness for Tennis too…

On court we had some great Tennis-Time. Though it was not so big an event like a Grand-slam or Masters, we had some big upsets- right from round one. Carlos Moya loosing to young Argentinean Juan Martin Del Portro, Rohan Bopanna and Mustafa Ghouse beating top seeds Alexander Peya and Bjorn Phau, Dimitry’s race to the Finals… all are just unforgetables.

There were some more moments to cherish for the Fans, the Organizers, the Players and all- most anticipated being the clash between two sensational pairs: Leander Paes – Aisam Qureshi and Mahesh Bhupathi- Mario Ancic. This match was on the same day when the Police statement on 7/11 Blasts in the city came and the Diplomatic desks in India and Pakistan set to fire. What appealed me most was the cheers the Cute-Qureshi from Pakistan got from the crowds (No mention- Girls…) whenever he played a good shot and that was a bit often. The same man from the neighbourhood had got huge applause during the Davis Cup tie at the venue. Surely, after Cricket and Hockey, it’s Tennis that is melting the ice- a sporting spirit of Mumbai that goes beyond the boundaries…

Another surprising moment of humility came on the rain-interrupted Monday when Doubles Final was shifted to the Court One and to avoid the further delay, Mario Ancic, his Coach, took hold of super-soppers. Mahesh Bhupathi, his wife Shweta and other Globosport Officials also joined hands with the grounds staff and volunteers. This inspired others and soon there were people wiping water off the Court. The Spirit, “The game must go on”, got a match going, which everyone had thought nearly cancelled.

On the organizers’ part, it was an overall success, with some minute flaws which media criticized overly. However they are regretted as it was the first time event here.

The weather… although it created a mess of the Finals, the Monsoon remained silent for the week and rained in the end as if it wanted the players to stay in the city a bit longer. The worst factor was not of rain but humidity. It was killing- as usual and some players including Del Portro and Ancic. But as Tursunov had said, “Your immune system does tend to give away in this kind of weather. But the weather was the same for all the players and everyone has to adjust to it.”

The tournament will survive for at least 3 years as the sponsors have promised and that’s a good news by Dr. Vijay Mallya- the owner of KFA and the man who is known for his interest in sports.

For Indians it was an absolute treat. The local players got exposure to some top-level Tennis. Some used it to their benefit, some couldn’t… but it will definitely help them.

Surely we need some more tournaments like this to explore the hidden talent in a country of over 100 Crores - 1/6th of the total world population.

The Globosports and MAesh Bhupathi with his personal top-level contacts with ATP-WTA players and officials have taken up this cause seriously. So more and more top players are coming to India and like many others, I hope that within next few years we may have Roger and Rafa or Roger and Roddic playing in the Finals in Mumbai… (Nice dream, isn’t it?)

So this year it’s over. But this is not an end. This is perhaps, the start of a new era in Indian Tennis and Indian Sports and of course another epoch in the life of a vibrant city that never stops in any case- the City of Dreams- the City of Mumbai…

See You Next Year In MUMBAI…

Action off The Field...

Mario in Mumbai....

I really can't believe that the tournament is over, seems like something has slipped out of my hands like a feather or a flower.....
Within a weak, next Monday actually, I would be facing my exams.
So can't say if I can come online. one thing is sure I will miss you, miss this thread, miss some Madness...
As I got to know, the ATP officials are happy with Mumbai and probably this will become an annual event.
So next year we will have the fun again....
I wish to be there next year and may be we will have Roger here some day...

I know, it's I really feel good for the fact that CCI is planning to have an indoor stadium, so next year no rain worries...

October 02, 2006 21:47 IST
Hindustan Times

The temperamental Dmrity Tursunov followed up his epic Davis Cup success by claiming his first ATP title at the Kingfisher Airlines ATP Mumbai Open on Monday.
The Russian beat the Czech Republic's Tomas Berdych 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (5) in a rain-interrupted final that was a see-saw of emotion.
Mahesh Bhupathi and Mario Ancic captured the doubles title, beating the Indian duo of Rohan Bopanna and Mustafa Ghouse 6-4, 6-7 (6-8), 10-8 in the final.
The doubles and singles finals were postponed after Sunday's wash-out. But rain chose to play spoilsport again on Monday, interrupting the proceedings twice.
The weather also disrupted the schedule of the top players still in the fray at the tournament. Tursunov and Mario Ancic were to travel for the Tokyo ATP, starting on Monday, but had to delay their departure. Tursunov had travelled to Mumbai after a gruelling Davis Cup match against Andy Roddick last Sunday and looked physically drained during the first two rounds.
Slighted indoors without practice for the last two days, both finalists looked out of sorts at the start of the match. Breaks were exchanged in the first two games, but the Russian world No 22 got the better of Berdych in the rallies.
It was indeed a contest about whose temperament was better. The energy and fire that saw Tursunov overcome top seed Tommy Robredo in the semi-final on Saturday was lacking, but he gained from Berdych's errors and broke the Czech in the sixth game to take a 4-2 lead before serving out the set at 6-3 with a service winner.
The rain-break didn't seem to affect the players' touch, but Tursunov was upset with the balls going soft quickly.
Berdych was more forceful in the second set and waited for the Russian to commit the unforced error. He effected a break in the tenth game to take the set at 6-4.
Play was again interrupted again in the third set by light showers. The spectators goaded the finalists to play on but neither wanted to risk injury.
After trading breaks in the seventh and eighth games for 5-5, Tursunov took a decisive 6-5 lead but failed to close out the set. He dished out a poor service game, losing on love.
The tie-break was another close affair, but Tursunov took it 7-5 with a superb backhand down the line to finish the match in two hours and 30 minutes.

Okey, this is something Really Funny to read...

Monday October 2, 03:52 AM

First Set, Second Love: A Tennis Story

Indian Express

A quaint tennis venue - flanked by trees and with violet blossoms dropping right
onto the Centre Court - sprung up quizzically on the periphery of one of Indian
cricket's oldest shrines, [b]the Brabourne Stadium.
Taking its cue from the multi-disciplinary settings, a fanciful allegiance to football surfaced over the Mumbai ATP week when small talk with tennis stars digressed from the usual forehands and first serves.
Austrian Alexander Peya lost to Tommy Robredo in his opening round. What is little known though, is how a teenage craze for soccer was swapped for a ride on tennis' grinding Tour. "[b]I played football seriously till I was 12-13 years old, then picked up a racket full-time which meant an end to soccer. But most Europeans play when travelling, and I can bet I'm the best football player on the Tennis tour,'' he says unabashedly.

Add compatriot Stefan Koubek to those looking back on football forlornly. Koubek has fared better on a tennis court reaching the quarters in Mumbai, and says he knew a trick or two playing footie, just that tennis training didn't permit him the
luxury to show off those skills.
Czech world No 13 Tomas Berdych touched Olympic glory beating Roger Federer in 2004, but his big five-rings moment came when he met Czech ice-hockey players from the 1998 Winter Olympic gold medal team. There is mutual admiration, though Berdych is reluctant to slide alongside on ice. "It's very dangerous but I like watching it,'' he says.
Football on tennis courts finds takers in German Simon Greul, Italian David Sanguinetti, Czech Robin Vik and Russian Dmitry Tursunov - the last mentioned cautioning that he'd rather not be photo-framed playing soccer. "I love playing, but you don't want to see me on the field,'' he quips.
Tommy Robredo, whose extra-curricular activity included beating a 13-year-old in remote car racing here, confesses that the Tour has taken its toll on his interest in soccer. ''I still like Barcelona and Carlos Puyol, but now I don't go crazy if they lose,'' says the Spaniard.
Not so for Mario Ancic, who grew up at a time when sport (Davor Suker helped Croatia finish third in the 1998 soccer World Cup) and sportsmen (Goran Ivanisevic) were defining Croatia's national character. ''My older brother Ivica insisted I do well in sports. I chose tennis, but was enthusiastic about football and basketball as well,'' he says.

Zoom into the neighbourhood and Pakistan's Aisam Qureshi splashed around picking school swimming records for five years before he stepped on to the tennis courts. "There's cricket with friends, and soccer with cousins. You name the sport and I play it, except horse riding maybe,'' he says.
The strangest second love though, is Bjorn Phau's. This speedy German carries cones to play field hockey on tennis courts.

First One for Dimitry Tursunov

Mumbai Monsoons... never let your spirits down...

The matches finally continued and the results are here...

Tursunov bt Berdych 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(7-5)

Good News for Mahesh and Mario............

Ancic (CRO) / Bhupathi (IND) bt Bopanna (IND) / Ghouse (IND)6-4, 7-6, 10-8

The Schedule of the day:

Matches start at 4:00 PM

(Singles Final)

Dmitry TURSUNOV (RUS)vsTomas BERDYCH (CZE)

followed by

(Doubles Final)

Rohan BOPANNA (IND) / Mustafa GHOUSE (IND)
VS
Mario ANCIC (CRO)Mahesh BHUPATHI (IND)

Weather Report:

It's a bit improved and I can see Sun shining outside my window. So seems like there are no more worries for us....

Saturday's Results:

Singles Results: Men's singles semi-finals:

4-Dmitry Tursunov (Russia) beat 1-Tommy Robredo (Spain)
7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-13-

Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic) beat Stefan Koubek (Austria)
7-6 (2), 6-2.

Tursunov in final, Berdyeh takes out Koubek

Kamesh Srinivasan from: The Hindu

MUMBAI: It is a surprise that he has not won a title on the tour yet. It will not be a surprise if Dmitry Tursunov of Russia goes on to win one here. There is no doubt that the 23-year-old Russian has potential.

Just ask Andy Roddick, or Tommy Robredo.

He may have been tired coming into the tournament, but Tursunov has been improving with every match and put up splendid fare in entertaining a near-capacity crowd on way to a 7-6(2), 3-6, 6-1 victory over the top-seeded Robredo of Spain in the semifinals of the $380,000 Kingfisher Airlines Tennis Open at the CCI courts here on Saturday.

Tursunov will meet Tomas Berdych who cut short the dream run of the 118th ranked Stefan Koubek, with a 7-6(2), 6-2 win.

The Russian was off to a superb start, serving big and timing the ball really well. However, there were moments of indecisive play that saw the Russian get broken in the seventh game of the first set and a couple of times in the second. Yet, there was no doubt as to who was calling the shots in the whole match. With due respect to Robredo's abilities, he had very little say in the overall flow of fortunes.

As the match wore on, Tursunov was at his delightful best and had the majority of the crowd behind him.

Majestic fashion

While Robredo was made to labour for his points, the 22nd ranked Tursunov was collecting them in majestic fashion, with superb ground-strokes shots and delectable drops that had the fleet-footed Spaniard rooted to the ground.
Into the decider, Tursunov raced to a finish that took him one step closer to his maiden title. Berdych looked sharp, stepping it up at the right time to scotch the hopes of the 29-year-old Austrian who saved a handful of breakpoints in three alternate service games of the first set to force a tie-break.

The 21-year-old Berdych was quite solid on his serve but for facing two breakpoints in the 11th game of the first set.

However, he found the big ones to pull himself out of trouble and wound up the
first set with one of his nine aces. Eventually, the athletic Koubek, a
former top-20, just did not have the legs to match the World No.13, the winner
of the Paris Masters. Berdych often caught him on the wrong foot a few times to
upset the Austrian's rhythm. The match as a contest was finished when
Berdych broke Koubek in the first game of the second set and broke him again at
love in the seventh game, before serving the match out for love.

Kingfisher Open: Robredo out

NAOSHIRVAN VAKIL ( TIMES NEWS NETWORK )

MUMBAI, Sept 30:

Dmitry Tursunov is making a habit of causing upsets. Last week in Moscow, he defeated Andy Roddick in a remarkable Davis Cup rubber, and now in Mumbai he did the unimaginable by sending top seed Tommy Robredo tumbling out of the Kingfisher Airlines Tennis Open at CCI. In an entertaining semifinal, Tursunov outlasted Spaniard Robredo 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-1.

In the other match, Tomas Berdych ended Stefan Koubek's giant-killing run with a 7-6(2), 6-2 victory.

It was the Tursunov-Robredo match which was the cynosure of all eyes. The Russian was hitting the cover of the ball, belting winners from all corners. He was especially severe with his forehand. Tursunov took all the risks and was not afraid of his daunting opponent. Robredo wilted under the tremendous barrage of shots by the Russian as he meekly surrendered in the third.

In the first set, the Russian broke Robredo when he was serving for the set at 5-4 and easily won the tiebreak. In the second, Robredo held the upper hand and led 4-1 but Tursunov reduced the margin to 3-4. Then inexplicably he dropped his serve double faulting at break point. Robredo duly served out the set.

It easily went the Russian's way in the second as he totally outclassed the Spaniard. Robredo who made a good fist of the first two sets was all at sea in the third.

Koubek who was once a top 50 player, had upset No.2 seed Mario Ancic in the quarterfinals on Friday. He was not so sharp on Saturday, committing a number of unforced errors. His drop shots were ineffective against Ancic. The lob, a surprise weapon his arsenal, was kept in cold storage for this match.

So Finaly It showed Up... Monsoon I mean...

"Due to heavy rains in Mumbai Today's Matches are postponed to Monday (Tomorrow)"
Just read that Note on the KFO website a while ago. It's raining since the morning and raining and raining...
hope that tomorrow it will be Sun shining and shining and shining....

However, The forcast for tomorrow is not that good...

But Considering the reports I hope it will be all-right till the evening. till then let's have something...

I just got this news... sadly is a slightly sad one.
Play suspended due to rain

Score:Tursunov/Berdych (6/2, 1-1)

Play has been suspended due to rain and there will be a final inspection at 7:00 PM.

If the court is not dry by then, the two players will share the singles title and will be awarded runners up ATP points and runners up prize money. strange rule...

I wish the match starts on time, it was scheduled at 5 and its 5 past 30

The live telecast has not begin yet.

I have no idea but I fear- the weather...

Yesterday, when I went to my college in the morning by a crowded train- it was raining and I got a bit drenched in the waters....

Oh Monsoons!

However everything was alright in the evening and Matches were played.

Today, at my place which is so near to the City we are facing harsh rains again.

But that doesn't mean that CCI grounds will have same condition... So I am waiting for the match to start...

By the way rains at unusual times is something becoming a bit usual here, a thing the City has to live with...

thanks to monsoon that there were no rains during the week....

Rain Rain go away...And don't come another day....

Today's Schedule:

Matches Start At: 5:00 PM

SINGLES FINAL

Dmitry TURSUNOV (RUS) vs Tomas BERDYCH (CZE)

followed by DOUBLES FINAL

Rohan BOPANNA (IND) / Mustafa GHOUSE (IND)
vs
Mario ANCIC (CRO) / Mahesh BHUPATHI (IND)

*
*
*

YEAH!!!!!!!!

I wan't to SHOUT!!!!!!!!

I can't believe this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyone, please tell me if what I just read is not wrong......

Rohan BOPANNA (IND) / Mustafa GHOUSE (IND) are in Doubles Final against
Mario ANCIC (CRO) / Mahesh BHUPATHI (IND) !!!

My eyes don't lie...

Here is the result of the second Doubles semi...
Rohan Bopanna (IND) / Mustafa Ghouse (IND) defeated
James Auckland (GBR) / Jamie Delgado (GBR) 4-6, 6-3, 10-7

Remember, half an hour before the draw, this Indian pair was unaware that they were playing together.

Cool Indians...!!! Always put your fan's in trouble... Now whoom shall we support?

So I will just enjoy the game alas I won't be there among the crowds today also...

One thing for sure, Indian fans will celebrate- At least One Indian will win!

Continuing from yesterday.... Here go some of clips I wished to post yesterday..

Mumbai Mirror had answered the question yesterday itself...

JOSEPH KORAITH (Mumbai Mirror)

Whoom shall we root Today...

ANYONE who tells you that life is simple is just not looking in the right direction. The situation that has sprung up at the Mumbai Open has kicked simplicity right out of the window. The reference is not to a convoluted mathematical formula used to decide a match.
The complexity, instead, stems from the confusion about the simple issue on whom to support in a semifinal doubles match which will played on centre court today. Before you ridicule and rubbish, let me elaborate.
The reference is to the doubles match involving Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi and the problem is that they are on opposite sides of the court. Paes is partnering Aisam Qureshi and Bhupathi is partnering Mario Ancic.
You can play safe by supporting Bhupathi and Ancic, them being the top seeds but that would mean that you would be putting your money against Leander. Now that is not a very wise thing. His combination with Aisam has proved lethal so far.
The women (we're not sexist, this is not a generalisation) could decide to cheer for the team with one Indian guy and one cute guy. But sadly both teams are perfectly matched on this front too. Both the cute ones, Ancic and Qureshi, have an equal share of fan following. Back to square one it is.
It would just be simpler if the Indian pair ended up on the same side of the court. In the other doubles semifinal it's not the matter of choiGe that is pertinent but the crowd will nevertheless be a bundle of nerves because Rohan Bopanna/Mustafa Qureshi will face fourth seeds James AucklandlJarnie Delgado.
For Bopanna/Mustafa to win and be in the finals would be 'just what the doctor ordered' for the Indian crowd. We are in for an epic battle in both of today's doubles encounters. As for the Lee-Hesh encounter, pick your team and scream yourself hoarse for them but don't be surprised if the other team wins.
But then again, to use the bruised and battered maxim, 'it's a win. win situation' for us Indians.

Kingfisher Open: Bhupathi scores over Paes

NAOSHIRVAN VAKIL- TIMES NEWS NETWORK

MUMBAI: It was a tame end to a fantastic match. Mahesh Bhupathi and Mario
Ancic, the No. 3 seeds, played their hearts out to score a gutwrenching 6-1 5-7
10-3 win over Leander Paes and Aisam Qureshi in the doubles quarterfinal of the
Kingfisher Airlines Tennis Open.
A packed CCI gallery shouted themselves
hoarse in support of Leander Paes. The Indo-Pak duo did not disappoint them as
they came alive in the second with stunning volleys. Leander also managed to get
the best of Qureshi who struck scintillating returns.
The new doubles rules
also came into effect on Saturday and four games in the second were decided on
the deciding point after deuce and it was Paes who got the winning shot, at 6-5
with a stirring backhand volley.
A Super tiebreak ensued and Bhupathi-Ancic
took their game to a different level. Paes had a chance on the very first point
but he smashed a volley long. Ancic struck terrific returns and big serves in
the breaker. Bhupathi was rock-solid at the net producing sparkling volleys at
the net. He finished off the match with a trademark backhand volley.
Ancic
was the only player of the four who did not drop his serve in the match. He
served big and had Paes-Qureshi groping.
In the first set it looked like
Bhupathi and Ancic had a plane to catch. Bhupathi was fantastic , hitting
volleys and superb returns.
You can never count out Paes. He wears his heart
on his sleeve and once the adrenaline is flowing there is no stopping him. The
momentum had swung their way and it looked like there would be a thrilling
finish to the match. However , it was not to be as Ancic-Bhupathi were the
heroes in the Super tiebreak.
"They played a brilliant match. Don't forget
we were playing against a top 10 player in Mario Ancic. We did well to come back
in the second set. Their experience paid off in the end," said Paes. Bhupathi
and Ancic are now directly into the final on Sunday as they have a walkover in
the semifinal.
Dennis Gremelmayr and Simon Gruel were forced to concede the
match. Gremelmayr suffered a hip injury during the quarterfinal.


Bhupathi-Ancic in doubles final

Deepti Patwardhan in Mumbai, October 01, 2006 00:53 IST

The atmosphere was worthy of a final. The match too was as good as one,
as the sheer class of Mario Ancic and Mahesh Bhupathi closed the deal in a Super
tie-break third set to progress to the final of the Kingfisher Airlines ATP
Mumbai Open doubles on Saturday.
Leander Paes and Aisam Qureshi recovered
from a set down but finally lost 1-6, 7-5, 3-10 to the third seeded pair of
Bhupathi-Ancic in the quarter-finals.
The victory catapulted Bhupathi and
Ancic to the final as their semi-final opponents, Denis Gremelmayr and Simon
Gruel of Germany, withdrew from the event because of a hip injury sustained by
the former.
Earlier, Russia's Dmitry Tursunov beat top seed Tommy Robredo of
Spain 7-6, 3-6, 6-1 to enter the final of the men's singles. The fourth seed
will meet third seed Tomas Berdych for the title. The Czech defeated unseeded
Austrian Stefan Koubek 7-6, 6-2 in the other semi-final.
"It was a fantastic
match. In the end Mahesh and Mario were too good for us," said Paes later. "I
would also like to congratulate Aisam on the performance. It was our first
tournament together; he took a lot of my shots today and made me look
good."
The match got off to a tame start as Paes was sluggish at the net and
Qureshi's serve didn't have the same zing with two quality players at the
receiving end. Two great returns from Bhupathi saw the Indo-Croat pair earn a
break in the very first game.
With both Qureshi and Paes rushing to the net,
their opponents had an easy chance to pass them. Bhupathi-Ancic's big serves
also proved difficult to return, with their opponents finding the net more
often.
A double-fault from Paes in the seventh game won the set for the third
seeds, who were looking too good for the Indo-Pak pair.
But cheered on by a
vociferous crowd and the Pakistani finding rhythm on his backhand, Paes and
Qureshi held their ground firmly. None of the players had easy service games,
and the unforced errors scratched out, it elevated into a great doubles contest.
There were the delectable reflex volleys at the net and the acute angles for
winners. Paes's drop volleys had more purpose and the Indo-Pak's aggressive
style pushed their rivals on the back foot.
They broke into the lead with
Paes's service winner in the seventh game. The duo was done in by a bad call for
fault with Qureshi serving for the set at 5-4, deuce. The deciding point was
against them but Qureshi-Paes fought to get a break back. Paes was again drawn
to deuce in the 12th game but Ancic put the ball long to give them the second
set 7-5.
The Super tie-break, which was the third set, turned out be
anti-climax as Bhupathi-Ancic raced to an 8-1 lead and went on to take the match
at 10-3.
"This week even though I was playing I was more happy to see the
stands full. Having put in so much effort for the last 7-8 months, it really
paid off," said Bhupathi.
The third seeds will meet the winners of the match
between Rohan Bopanna-Mustafa Ghouse and Great Britain's James Auckland and
Jamie Delgado on Sunday.

Matches Start At: 5:00 PM

SINGLES FINAL

Dmitry TURSUNOV (RUS) vs Tomas BERDYCH (CZE)


DOUBLES FINAL (followed by)

Rohan BOPANNA (IND) / Mustafa GHOUSE (IND)
vs
Mario ANCIC (CRO) / Mahesh BHUPATHI (IND)



I wan't to SHOUT!!!!!!!!

I can't believe this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyone, please tell me if what I just read is not wrong......

Rohan BOPANNA (IND) / Mustafa GHOUSE (IND) are in Doubles Final
against Mario ANCIC (CRO) / Mahesh BHUPATHI (IND)

My eyes don't lie... Here is the result of the second Doubles semi...

Rohan Bopanna (IND) / Mustafa Ghouse (IND) defeated James Auckland (GBR) / Jamie Delgado (GBR) 4-6, 6-3, 10-7

Remember, half an hour before the draw, this Indian pair was unaware that they were playing together.
Cool Indians...!!! Always put your fan's in trouble... Now whoom shall we support?