A grand comeback: Ramesh Krishnan

India on Sunday hailed a grand return to top flight tennis by Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi, celebrating their French Open men's doubles title triumph.

The former world number one pair claimed their second victory together at Roland Garros on Saturday, defeating the Czech pair of Petr Pala and Pavel Vizner 7-6 (5), 6-3 in the final.

The victory marked a revival of the duo, dubbed "The Indian Express" on the circuit, after injury and personal differences led to their splitting early last year before coming together again just before the Sydney Olympics in September.

"It is very much a grand comeback, more so being unseeded, beating four seeded pairs, and to do it in this fashion," India's Davis Cup captain Ramesh Krishnan said.

The victory gave Paes and Bhupathi, who were unseeded in Paris, their third Grand Slam men's doubles title and their 19th overall on the ATP tour.

They won their first French Open men's doubles in 1999 and also claimed the Wimbledon title, becoming the first pair in more than 45 years to reach the finals of all four Grand Slams in the same year.

They reached the semifinals of the Monte Carlo Masters before winning the Atlanta and Houston ATP events last month in a display of splendid early clay court form.

"They were seen getting back, but they have done sooner than anticipated. If they can duplicate '99 or come close to it, it will be great. Wimbledon is coming up. They are on a good roll and they have won there before," Krishnan said.

The Indian media were effusive in their praise with all prominent dailies splashing front-page photographs of Paes and Bhupathi along with detailed reports of the victory.

"They are back with a bang," screamed the headline in the Hindustan Times daily, while "Awesome twosome" ran a caption in the Times of India newspaper above a front-page picture of the two players in action at Roland Garros.

"Bhupathi, Paes restore French connection," said The Hindu daily, in a reference to Bhupathi winning India's first Grand Slam title when he claimed the mixed doubles with Japan's Rika Hiraki in 1997.

All Indian television channels led with the French Open victory, ahead of the cricket team's strong performance in the first test in Zimbabwe.

"This is very good for Indian sport. So many good things have been happening and this is one of them," Krishnan said.

PTI adds: Former India non-playing Davis Cup captain Jaideep Mukherjea, who had seen the on-court exploits of the two Indian stars from very close range, said the split was the most unfortunate thing to have happened to Indian tennis but ''now that they are back, the country can expect more laurels''. '

''I am a little sentimental about them as I have seen them from a very early stage. They played together for the first time under me and had never really looked back since then. I hope this title will help them to regain their position in the doubles circuit," he said.

''Their decision to play together again was right. It was only a matter of time before they found their form again. They should now aim for the Wimbledon title next month," he added.

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