Tennis: Paes, Matkowski win 2014 Malaysian Open doubles

During his post-finals speech at the 2014 Malaysian Open, Leander Paes thanked the crowd for attending the match, adding, “I know doubles is early in the day and later you are waiting for the real show [the singles championship].”

This prompted a collective groan from the spectators.  After all, Paes – the most-decorated Indian tennis player and the best doubles player in history from the Asia-Pacific – was the reason that the Putra Stadium, Bukit Jalil was nearly packed on Sunday afternoon a few hours before Kei Nishikori won the singles title.  While Paes’ colleagues Bob and Mike Bryan have been setting records in 2014, the 41-year-old was chasing some history of his own.  In teaming up with Marcin Matkowski of Poland for the first time, Paes still searching for a doubles title this season; a victory at the Malaysian Open would mean that he would have won at least one ATP event every year for the past 18 years.

Facing the team of Jamie Murray (older brother of Andy) and John Peers, it almost didn’t happen.  Murray and Peers won the first set and the second headed into a tiebreaker, which Paes and Matkowski managed to win 7-5.  From there, they rolled through the third-set super tie-break – the first team to win 10 points by a margin of at least two – to capture the title, 3-6, 7-6 (5), 10-5, and the first in Kuala Lumpur in Paes’ illustrious career.

Photos & Videos: 2014 Malaysian Open doubles championship – Sept. 28, 2014
all photos by Yuan-Kwan Chan / Meniscus Magazine

Leander Paes and Marcin Matkowski acknowledge the crowd after winning the 2014 Malaysian Open doubles title. (photo by Yuan-Kwan Chan / Meniscus Magazine)