Bhupathi-Knowles win in Memphis

Mahesh Bhupathi ended his one-and-a-half-year drought of ATP doubles title by winning the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships in Memphis.

Bhupathi and his partner Mark Knowles of Bahamas, who were top seeded, pipped Thai twins Sanchai and Sonchat Ratiwatana 7-6(5), 6-2 in one hour and 16 minutes at the $ 769,000 hard court event on Sunday.

The Indo-Bahamas duo, playing their 10th tournament together since teaming up after the US Open last year, did not drop even a single set in the event en route to their first title together.

The duo had reached semifinals at the Australian Open in January.

For Bhupathi it was 42nd career title while Knowles added 48th career crown to his kitty.

Bhupathi, who last won a doubles title in August 2007 in US, alongside Nenad Zimonjic of Serbia, said the win was hard earned.

"It's good to have the first title of the year. We started off really well in Melbourne feeling pretty confident.

"We both served well, focused hard because we knew if we played well we could have a shot at the title," said Bhupathi. 

Bhupathi and Knowles now head for Dubai where the duo is seeded fourth. Other Indian in the action would be Rohan Bopanna and Leander Paes who would be playing alongside their respective partners.