Aisam Qureshi upstages Bopanna to win Indian Open title

New Delhi, Dec 23 (UNI) Lanky Rohan Bopanna ran out of steam as Pakistani ace Aisam Qureshi came from behind to topple the top seed and lift the title after a three-setter final in the State Bank of Saurashtra Indian Open Tennis Championship here today.

Seeded fourth, Qureshi showed tremendous resilience to get the better of big serving Bopanna 2-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Davis Cupper Bopanna bulldozed his way without dropping a set, while his Pakistani opponent looked scrappy right from the beginning. Qureshi, no alien to the DLTA Complex, had a close shave in the quarterfinal where he had to toil hard in the middle before edging out unseeded Bulgarian Todor Enev 6-3, 6-7(6), 7-6(2).

Bopanna began the day looking in ominous form and Qureshi seemed clueless against the big serving Indian who dropped just two games in a one-sided opening set to wrest early initiative.

After getting a hang of the things out there, Qureshi looked a much improved in the second set and his immaculate return left Bopanna wrong-footed quite often. Qureshi served well and kept Bopanna at bay, not allowing the Indian to play his serve-and-volley brand of tennis and it paid off as the Pakistani clinched the second set to hang on.

Much was expected from Bopanna in the decider but the Indian seemed woefully out of rhythm and his serve too let him down.

Qureshi grabbed the opportunity with both hands and never relaxed his grip as the third set followed the same script with the Pakistani ending on the right side of the match.

UNI AY DH VC1750