Click to play videoNew Delhi: The Croatian-Indian duo of Mario Ancic and Mahesh Bhupathi won the doubles of the Kingfisher Open in Mumbai.
They beat the pair of Rohan Bopanna and Mustafa Ghouse 6 -4, 6-7, 10-8 to win the title.
Ancic and Bhupathi - who won the Beijing Open title a while ago were made to work hard as Bopanna and Ghouse took them into a super tiebreaker before finally going down.
“Today’s match was a lot closer than the semi-finals as the tie-breaker went down to 10-8 in the third,” Bhupathi said.
Bhupathi also hinted that he might not play for India again. He said he was seriously considering opting out of national duty — which includes Davis Cup engagements.
He might even do a rethink on the Asian Games in December and Olympics in 2008.
“I have been contemplating it. I have spoken to Anil Khanna (AITA President) and will think about it in a few days and announce my decision,” Bhupathi said.
Bhupathi had been expected to partner Davis Cup captain Leander Paes at the Asian Games in Doha in December and defend the doubles crown.
He felt slighted when the Federation paired top woman player Sania Mirza with Leander Paes for the Asian Games.
Bhupathi was paired with the lower-ranked Shikha Oberoi.
"Various factors led to it, things were adding up," said Bhupathi, who has won 10 grand slam doubles and mixed doubles crowns.
"I needed to cut down on my playing and prioritise on the men's doubles at the Australian Open, one title that I have not won."
"Two weeks at Doha is not the ideal preparation for the Australian Open," added Bhupathi, who has won four men's doubles grand slams.
(With inputs from Reuters and CNN-IBN)
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