Paes in qualifying final

Shailesh Soni

Leander Paes stormed into the final of the singles qualifiers at Wimbledon 2001, defeating Mose Navarra of Italy 7-5, 6-1.

Paes did not have to work hard for the victory. The first set went without any hiccups and neither player faced any break points on their serves. Suddenly at 5-5, Paes had Navarra down at 30-40 and converted the break chance to get ahead at 6-5. The Indian served off the set without any problems in the next game.

In the second set, at 0-1, the Indian was in trouble, down 15-40. But Paes pulled up his game to win four straight points and saved the game. He then fired up on all cylinders and continued the momentum, winning four of five points on Navarra's serve in the next game to go up a break at 2-1.

Navarra tried his best to make a come back by taking Paes to a couple of deuces in the next game. But the Indian stayed ahead. After this, the Italian could only manage to win two points. Paes broke him in fifth and seventh games, winning 12 of the last 14 points to take the match.

Paes will face Alex O'Brien of the United States in the final round. The American came back from a break down in the second set to defeat Lorenzo Manta of Switzerland 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.

O'Brien, currently ranked 234 on the ATP, is playing his ninth Wimbledon championships. His best performance in the singles at the championships was in 1997, when he reached the third round.

O'Brien leads 1-0 in head-to-head against Paes. The last time the two faced each other was at the US Open in 1998 where the American defeated the Indian 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 in the first round.

Earlier reports:
Paes, Nirupama in round 2
Paes faces Bulgarian in Wimbledon qualifier