Indian medicine softens Michel Kratochvil’s loss

Michel said after the match, “I don’t know how I played here. I wanted to quit even before the first round, but I guess the doctors here helped me a lot. Every round has been a struggle, and I was possibly fittest today.” Dr Aijaz Ashai and Dr Hima Dalal, who treated Michel here, said, “He had inflamed tendons in his serving shoulder, so we gave him physiotherapy and some strengthening exercises.” Kratochvil also learned Indian pills were far more effective than Swiss cures for diarrhoea (you need Indian medicines for Indian antibodies, Dr Ashai joked).

All this is not to take away from the genial Thai’s convincing victory. After a slug-fest in the first set, thefitter Paradorn, despite being unable to land 50 per cent of his first serves, powered past a sapped Michel in the second to win 7-6 (8-6) 6-2.

Ghouse-Uppal succumb:

Earlier, the Indian pair of Mustafa Ghouse and Vishal Uppal replayed the drama that unfolded in the Australian Open today. Like Paes and Bhupathi, Ghouse and Uppal kindled hopes by drawing level in the second set before losing the doubles final to top Swedes Simon Aspelin and Johan Landsberg 5-7 6-4 2-6 in one hour 58 minutes.

Ghouse and Uppal had their chances. Up 4-3 in the first set, they had five breakpoints off Landsberg’s serve. But the pair missed two volleys at the net, while Ghouse’s returns from the deuce court, an admitted weak point, was fodder for Aspelin at the net. Ghouse said, “We had our chances in that game but we could not capitalise on them.”

At 5-5, Vishal failed to hold serve against some good returning.

But the Indians were pumped up in their fight back, as they broke Landsberg’s serve to lead 5-3. TheIndians again squandered three set points, but broke Aspelin’s serve in the 10th game to stay in the match.Only for a short while, though, as the Swedes dominated the third set. Uppal said, “They were much better, a seasoned pair. We are playing well together, and hope to see better days.”

Results (all final)

Men singles: Paradorn Srichaphan (Thai) bt Michel Kratochvil (Swiss) 7-6 (8-6) 6-2; (Doubles): 1-Simon Aspelin & Johan Landsberg (Swed) bt Vishal Uppal & Mustafa Ghouse (Ind) 7-5 4-6 6-2.