Leach, Ferreira win world doubles

Leach and Ferreira came back from a set down

Ellis Ferreira and Rick Leach came from a set down against Petr Pala and Pavel Vizner to win the ATP World Doubles Challenge Cup.

Ferreira and Leach were not among the pre-tournament favourites in the $350,000 tournament but eventually overcame their Czech opponents 6-7 7-6 6-4 6-4 in Bangalore, India, on Saturday.

The Czech brothers-in-law had been fancied to take the $145,000 prize after beating home favourites Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi on Thursday.

And they matched their opponents throughout the first set as the game headed for a tiebreak.

In the crucial times Rick and Ellis hit unbelievable shots, which we didn't

Ellis Ferreira

Despite slumping to a 3-0 deficit in the first-set decider, they won it 8-6.

But from there South Africa's Ferreira and his American partner picked up their game, gaining revenge in the second-set tiebreak 7-2.

The pair took a more aggressive stance in the next set, continually attacking the Czech pair's service games and producing a series of deft angles to gain the break.

That finally came in the eighth game.

They went on to break the Pala serve even earlier in the fourth set and, from there, were rarely troubled again.

Afterwards the 31-year-old Ferreira told reporters: "I definitely felt we were capable of winning the first set.

'Unbelievable shots'

"We knew we could beat these guys but they were returning so well.

"We actually believed in ourselves more after the second set. I just wanted to stay fired up, I usually don't get excited on the court but I was today."

Pala said afterwards he and Vizner had lost their momentum in the second set.

"In the crucial times Rick and Ellis hit unbelievable shots, which we didn't," he added.

"That made the difference."