Leander Paes loses another Challenger final

Leander Paes in partnership with Andre Begemann was beaten 6-4, 6-2 by Mikhail Elgin and Denis Istomin in the doubles final of the $125,000 Challenger tennis tournament in Tashkent on Friday.

It was the fourth loss in a Challenger final this season for Leander Paes who has 54 doubles titles in the men’s professional circuit including eight in the Grand Slams.

Leander Paes in partnership with Andre Begemann was beaten 6-4, 6-2 by Mikhail Elgin and Denis Istomin in the doubles final of the $125,000 Challenger tennis tournament in Tashkent on Friday.

It was the fourth loss in a Challenger final this season for the 43-year-old Paes who has 54 doubles titles in the men’s professional circuit including eight in the Grand Slams.

While the champions collected $7,750 and 125 ATP points, the runners-up had to settle for $4500 and 75 ATP points.

The third seeded Indo-German duo had annihilated local pair and giant-killers Sanjar Fayziev and Jurabeck Karmov 6-2 6-0 in the semifinals of the hard court event.