Indian pair describes victory as thrilling one

Chennai: The returning Indian Express of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi on Sunday said the thrilling

victory in Chennai Open semifinal over the Croatian pair of Marin Cilic and Ivan Dogig was down to precise planning over the strategy to be adopted in the match. Paes and Bhupathi, playing here as a pair for the first time in eight years since their last appearance here culminated in a title triumph in 2002, entered the doubles final after a 6-1, 7-6 (4), 10-5 victory over Cilic and Dodig. Asked if the Indian pair had consciously tried to keep their returns low, keeping in mind Cilic`s 6 foot 6 frame, Paes agreed. "Yeah, we kept it soft and low." he said. "We had to volley really well and we did. That`s why we won," added Bhupathi. Paes pointed out that "we played two really good singles players," and called world number 14 Cilic`s backhand returns "world class, which is why he is one of the top singles players in the world." Asked about the prospect of playing the Serbo-Italian pair of Janko Tipsarevic and Simone Bolelli in the final (the latter were then leading 5-2 in the first set in their semifinal encounter with the Dutch-British pair of Robin Haase and David Martin), Paes said, "It`s too early to say but they`re playing really well and their backhands are excellent." PTI