Dlouhy helps ailing Paes to win Open doubles title

By RACHEL COHEN, AP Sports Writer Sep 13, 8:47 pm EDT

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NEW YORK (AP)—Leander Paes woke up Sunday morning not sure whether he could play for his fifth Grand Slam title in men’s doubles. He hurt his elbow playing mixed doubles earlier in the tournament and his arm was sore from his shoulder to his triceps to the elbow.

But with a boost from teammate Lukas Dlouhy, Paes was celebrating another major victory. The fourth-seeded pair beat the No. 3 seeds, Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

“Every time I touched the ball there was so much pain that I didn’t believe that I could actually go through the match and finish,” Paes said.

Paes, of India, and Dlouhy, of Czech Republic, won the French Open earlier this year for their first Grand Slam championship together. They lost to the American team of Bob and Mike Bryan in last year’s U.S. Open final but beat them in the semifinals this year.

“Today he’s shown amazing maturity to lead the team,” the 36-year-old Paes said of the 26-year-old Dlouhy. “Normally he likes to follow in the team. I have no problem leading the team, but I was good today but I followed him today. I think that’s the beauty of the best doubles teams in the world.”

MARRIED TO TENNIS: Novak Djokovic believes he sees a refreshed Roger Federer now that the Swiss great has gotten married, become a father and broken the record for career Grand Slam titles.

“The way he stands on the court, the way he approaches the matches, it’s different,” Djokovic said in a news conference after losing to Federer in the U.S. Open semifinals Sunday. “It’s more relaxed.”

Then somebody suggested that maybe Djokovic should get married.

Laughing, Djokovic pointed to the back of the room—where his girlfriend was sitting.

“Now, you give her reason enough to ask,” he joked. “She’s going to expect something in the next couple of weeks.”

MEDITATING ON VICTORY: How does a player stay motivated after 375 straight singles victories? Yoga, perhaps.

Esther Vergeer of the Netherlands won her fourth U.S. Open women’s wheelchair championship Sunday, beating countrywoman Korie Homan 6-0, 6-0 in 41 minutes. She has not lost a singles match since January 2003.

Now Vergeer wants to incorporate yoga and meditation into her training.

“To keep myself motivated I have to find new things,” she said. “Of course I know how to hit a forehand now, and I don’t really have to learn how to do it. I just have to remain at the level that I have now and of course improve. I think this is going to motivate myself and give myself inspiration.”

Vergeer and Homan also teamed up to win the doubles title.

The 28-year-old Vergeer lost the ability to use her legs in 1990 after undergoing surgery for a spinal defect and brain hemorrhage.

Vergeer is seeking a new coach as she keeps pushing herself to a higher level. She hopes she can inspire other wheelchair athletes to challenge themselves with new training techniques.

“That’s not really known in disabled sports yet,” she said of yoga and mediation. “So I’d like to explore that.”

Updated Sep 13, 8:47 pm EDT
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78 Comments

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  1. Morty
    78. Posted by Morty Mon Sep 14 11:14am EDT

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    Leander Paes is a fierce competitor but also a class act. He seemed genuinely happy for the two Americans that won their first grand slam titles in the Mixed so I was happy to see him win the Men's. Paes is one of the all time greats in my opinion.
  2. Randeep S
    77. Posted by Randeep S Mon Sep 14 11:09am EDT

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    This is Paes's 6th grand slam title not his 5th. He won the 2006 US open doubles title with Martin Damm. http://in.rediff.com/sports/2006/sep/10usopen1.htm. The editor needs to correct this. He had 3 with Bhupathi, 1 with Damm and 2 this year with Dlouhy.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leander_Paes#Men.27s_doubles:_11_finals_.286_titles.2C_5_runner-ups.29
  3. Morty
    76. Posted by Morty Mon Sep 14 10:36am EDT

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    women's tennis is a joke. when an unranked player fresh out of retirement can come in and win a major that's embarrassing. so many headcases out there and none of them have what it takes to win a major. Oudin should have never gotten as far as she did and Safina is a mental case.
  4. Matt
    75. Posted by Matt Sun Sep 13 8:35pm EDT

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    @#$% that @#$%...the end

    no literally I would @#$% that @#$% hahaha

    giggity giggity :)
  5. Matt
    74. Posted by Matt Sun Sep 13 8:29pm EDT

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    bottom line, she got lucky!!! thats it, she won't do @#$% next year. Most likely go to college meet some guy who's going to ruin her life, possibly get her pregnant & that'll be the last you'll here from here. Yeah she might do some commercials & get some endorsements but they won't last. She's the next Andy Roddick....all hype & who the @#$% gives an endorsement deal to someone who hasnt even proven themselves. blah blah............then end :)
  6. <i>rikitiger1966</i>
    73. Posted by rikitiger1966 Sun Sep 13 5:36pm EDT

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    mr logic you are an a hole. quit bringing up the race card. it is a tired excuse.
  7. adam
    72. Posted by adam Sun Sep 13 4:44pm EDT

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    Amazing to me that anyone would have anything negative to say about Oudin. She is 17 and seems to be about as normal a kid as you can have in the public eye. For those here who are negative, the girl made it to the quarterfinals of a freakin' grand slam event. How about giving Ms. Oudin a well deserved "Congratulations!"

    The U.S. should be very proud of her. She represented us well on the court. Thank you Melanie and, congrats on your efforts here and at Wimbledon. I wish you continued success.
  8. leigh
    71. Posted by leigh Sun Sep 13 3:33pm EDT

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    So glad you're back, Kim. You are a class act and a lady.
    I recall seeing you during a rain delay mopping a court with towels.
    Could we picture Venus or Serena mopping a court???
    Best of luck for your future endeavors in Tennis, and new family.
  9. HermineC
    70. Posted by HermineC Sun Sep 13 12:26pm EDT

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    Congratulations Venus nd Serena..GOD bless you both and keep you safe, healthy, and prosperous always. I believe that tennis is your ministry. You are both very inspiring. Keep it up inspite of .evil-speakers. I pray you both go on to win, win, win, and make so many of us proud. You may never know how much you both mean to so many of us. Many of us do not even want to look at tennis when either of you are not playing for any reason. Please do not disappointment us too often.. WE are totally on Serena,s side even though we are sorry things went so far last night. We are happy to see how you, Venus and other family members support each other. That is genuine love. Hope to meet you and your father one day. Stay blessed and stand firm on your principles.
  10. <i>thistledew4me@...</i>
    69. Posted by thistledew4me@... Sun Sep 13 10:30am EDT

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    What a fresh addition to the exciting tennis at the Open this year! I challenge others to have her composure and grace under so much scrutiny - she may only be 17 but she has already earned her way into the level she's at through 11+ years of playing, practicing, sacrifices, losing, and determination.
    It shouldn't matter how she became educated whether privately or publicly - as long as she's continued her education. She's well aware there is more to her future than tennis and she should be proud of herself - for ALL of her accomplishments. She is a wonderful example for our youth and will inspire many to reach for their dreams and their goals.
    It troubles me in this the 21st century - that some still wish to make something so innocent as playing a game or two of tennis - into something racial. It is those constant comments and racial negative comments - that continue to tarnish our GREAT AMERICAN CULTURAL MELTING POT, and KEEP us divided.
    We must move forward as a society - for ourselves, our next generation - AND our Country.
    Go Melanie - and be proud of who you are and the future you're working at for yourself, whatever that course may be.
    The least able are most likely the first - to cast "the first stone"...
  11. BMW
    68. Posted by BMW Sun Sep 13 10:19am EDT

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    Truthsayer, Oudin benefitted from Maria Sharapova double faulting more times than she normally makes unforced errors. When you include her unforced errors, and also look at how close the score was, Oudin will need to play much better under most circumstances. The player that beat her played solid, but she really lacked big shots in her arsenal, and overall is less talented than the usual top 10 player. I wish Oudin well, but her size reminds me of Hingis, and although I did not like Hingis, she was extremely tough at the top of her game. Most of the time, players at that size will not defeat the top players. I hope she can overcome. She may be able to be a top 10, even a top 5 player. Many players NEVER reach number 1, so that is acceptable. I would like her to achieve her dream of winning the US Open. It is not likely it will happen though.
  12. susan c
    67. Posted by susan c Sun Sep 13 10:18am EDT

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    Only time will determine if she is going to be a real player. There have been tons of her before. Remember Anna Kournikova?
  13. stephen
    66. Posted by stephen Sun Sep 13 8:52am EDT

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    Oudin is my new hero!
  14. ger 41
    65. Posted by ger 41 Sun Sep 13 8:11am EDT

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    She's 17 years old. Leave her alone
  15. Che P
    64. Posted by Che P Sun Sep 13 7:52am EDT

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    flash in the pan.....she didn't even make the semis...what's all the hoopla about...plzzzzzzzzzzz...she got lucky, next time she won't creep up on anyone, meaning a good ass whuppin' and 1st rd KO if she qualifies....i got news for the hopeful, she'll fade as all thr american tennis players do(exceot for the williams sis)....another overhyped, overpumped white american(see roddick)....
  16. john
    63. Posted by john Sun Sep 13 6:14am EDT

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    i am now willing to bet her tennis career will be not great.
  17. john
    62. Posted by john Sun Sep 13 6:12am EDT

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    her endorsement was for a data mining firm....holy @#$%. that is the end of our sweet american story right there if you ask me... data mining firms are bad for everyone, they were probably created by satan.
  18. Nickolai
    61. Posted by Nickolai Sun Sep 13 3:24am EDT

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    Buying a Rolex, how original. It's overpriced and not even that good of a watch, just a name for people who know nothing about watched. Get a real quality watch like Patek, Briguet or IWC
  19. al'semail
    60. Posted by al'semail Sat Sep 12 3:02pm EDT

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    As retarded as this commercialism is (the 17 year old endorses a data mining company? or anything else??) at least she beat the queen of commercial sales and marketing: the Russian that insisted on telling me which digital camera I should buy.

    Which one do I despise more: stupid "athletes" in commercials?? People who watch and believe the marketing?? The women in marketing departments who cannot create any value and lie lie lie??
  20. al'semail
    59. Posted by al'semail Sat Sep 12 2:58pm EDT

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    That is what it is all about. SELLING SOME CRAP. Wanna bet she got paid by Rolex for saying she will buy Rolex?

    Who cares about sports? it s about endorsements.


    I pity the people who buy something because someone endorses it.

    As for the data mining company: blow your money. The William sisters were sponsored by the now bankrupt NORTEL.
  21. Easy E
    58. Posted by Easy E Sat Sep 12 2:23pm EDT

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    So who was the endorsement deal with? I'm guessing it wasn't Rolex if she's gonna buy one.
  22. chester m
    57. Posted by chester m Sat Sep 12 1:50pm EDT

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    wah wah wah I won! wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh OMG women atheletses make me sick, at leats the ones who cry when they havent even reached the dam semi's!!!!!!!!!! UNREAL! THANKS TO MY SNEAKERS! WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
  23. chester m
    56. Posted by chester m Sat Sep 12 1:47pm EDT

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    hahahah yeah, this girl is a total flash in the pan. She actually thanked her sneakers while crying., what a stupid and very talentless athelete. Wah Wah Wah. makes me sick. take the money and run girl, youll never be lucky enough to do that well ever again!
  24. Kool
    55. Posted by Kool Sat Sep 12 12:24pm EDT

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    Well, Oudin is not going to get much taller, it at all. But she can use Justine Henin as an example of a player who wa not as tall or as strong as a lot of the top players.
  25. How Boring
    54. Posted by How Boring Sat Sep 12 10:54am EDT

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    She played well in her matches and was glad she beat Sharapova. I'm not convinced she is that good. She needs to get taller and stronger.
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