Thai twins win doubles title in Chennai

Thailand's Sanchai and Sonchat Ratiwatana established themselves as one of the teams to look forward to in the season by winning the Chennai Open doubles title on Sunday.

The Thai twins beat Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus and France's Marc Gicquel 6-4, 7-5 in the final to claim their second ATP title. They had won the Bangkok Open in September last year.

"The first one in Thailand was special because we won at home," Sonchat told reporters later. "But this is also important because it gives us confidence to do well for the rest of the year."

Having recovered from a set down from their two previous matches, the duo had it easier this time around as they played with assurance and particularly dazzled at the net with their quick, soft hands.

"It doesn't matter whether we win in two sets or match tie-break; the most important thing was that we won," added Sanchai.

Baghdatis-Gicquel tightened up the game in the second set and sent down seven of the nine aces in the match.

It looked like heading into another tie-breaker with Gicquel serving for the eleventh game at 40-30. But a Sanchai cross court forehand skimmed the sideline, which Baghdatis-Gicquel debated was wide.

Once at deuce, the Ratiwatanas came up with a brilliant point.

While both Baghdatis and Gicquel were parked at the net and tried to finish the point, the Thai twins kept hitting everything back till a backhand pass saw them into the lead.

Sanchai then served out the match at love to seal the title.

A winning start to the year would also enhance the Thai chances of making it to the Beijing Olympics. Sanchai is currently ranked 71 in the doubles while Sonchat is four rungs higher at 67.