Lindstedt and Tecau Win First Masters Title

By Tennis Now Staff

(August 19, 2012)—Robert Lindstedt and Horia Tecau won their first Masters 1000 title as a team in Cincinnati, when they defeated Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna 6-4, 6-4 on Sunday at the Western and Southern Open.

In doing so, the Swedish-Romanian tandem became the third team to qualify for the ATP World Tour Finals, joining Max Mirnyi/Daniel Nestor and Mike Bryan/Bob Bryan.

This week in Cincinnati, Lindstedt and Tecau escaped from American teams twice in match tiebreaks in the early rounds. They got by Brian Baker and Rajeev Ram 6-4, 3-6, 10-6 in their first match, then slid past three-time Cincinnati champions Mike and Bob Bryan (with the help of 17 aces) 7-5, 6-7(5), 10-2 in the semis.

“First time for me that I'm beating the Bryans,” said Tecau. “So it's very rewarding to beat the best doubles team in the world and get my first Masters title here in Cincinnati.”

In today’s final, the 2012 Wimbledon finalists converted three of nine break points to get past Bopanna and Bhupathi in sixty-seven minutes. Lindstedt and Tecau have been to four finals in their last five events, notching titles in ‘S-Hertogenbosch and Bastad as well.

“I don't think the monkey can be any bigger that just got off my back, of our backs,” said Robert Lindstedt afterwards. “We finally get the big one that we been fighting for for so long. To get that and fight through and beat such good teams on the way and you come out on top, it's an indescribable feeling.”

Last year Lindstedt and Tecau qualified for the World Tour Finals just a few weeks prior to the event. They went 1-2 and did not reach the semifinals in their only appearance at the prestigious season-ending event.

Lindstedt and Tecau have won 10 titles since pairing up in early 2010.

(Photo Credit: Getty)