New Delhi: India's Mahesh Bhupathi and Max Mirnyi of Belarus won the men's doubles title of the $ 665,000 ATP Tour tennis event in Estoril, Portugal, defeating Lucas Arnold and Mariano Hood of Argentina 6-1, 6-2 in the final, according to information received on Sunday.

The win on Saturday gives Bhupathi his 27th career title and the second partnering Mirnyi after the US Open win last year. Incidentally, this is also Bhupathi's first title after the Grand Slam crown.

Besides the prize money of $25,300, the winners also gain 35 Race Points which should help them move up from the abysmal position of 41 in the Double Race.

The combination with the Belarussian has worked well for Bhupathi. In Mirnyi, he has found statistically the best partner after Leander Paes. So far, Bhupathi has paired with Mirnyi on 13 occasions and reached the finals six times. He began the current season with Joshua Eagle of Australia but soon realised that they were not gelling and talked Mirnyi back to their successful bonding.

The Estoril clay should hold a special place in both the players' hearts since it was here last season that both came together for the first time at an ATP event.

PTI