Paes faces Yaoki Ishii in first match

India No. 1 Leander Paes has been drawn to play the first singles against Japan's No. 2 Yaoki Ishii in the Davis Cup Asia Oceania zone Group I second round tie, starting in Tokyo, on Friday.

Thursday's draw, by Prince Akishino, younger son of Emperor Akihito, pitted Mahesh Bhupathi against top Japanese player Takao Suzuki in the second singles.

Paes and Bhupathi, the former world No. 1 team which reached the doubles final of all the four Grand Slams in 1999, will team up to square off with Thomas Shimada and Suzuki in Saturday's doubles.

The reverse singles matches will be played on Sunday.

. Japan has not played in the World Group since 1985 and has not beaten India since 1930. Since then, the Indians have won all the 15 encounters, giving them a 15-2 advantage. Japan's only victories came in 1921 ans 1930.

Also weighing in favour of India is the fact that when the two countries last met in 1990, Japan were routed 4-1.

However, India's non-playing captain Ramesh Krishnan downplayed past results. "The 15 times are over and we haven't played them in the last 10 or 11 years, so it doesn't mean an advantage. This is a new occasion," he said.

However, he hastened to add: "I feel we will be able to defeat Japan in this tie."

Paes, who arrived in Tokyo with the Indian team on Wednesday night, said, "I've been well for seven months now. I hurt my wrist at the French Open last year, but I've been playing a lot of tennis in the last six months, so I'm fine and fit.

"I've never played against Ishii as far as I recollect, as well as Takao, but we've seen the Japanese players many times, so we know what to expect."

Japan's coach Jun Kamiwazumi admitted he held out little hope of winning the doubles.

"Everything definitely depends on whether we can beat Paes in the singles, because their doubles pair is unbeatable. We shall concentrate on the singles matches."

The winner of the match, being played on hard court at Ariake Coliseum, will play against one of the eight first round losers from this year's World Group in September. A win there will ensure a place in the prestigious 2002 World Group.