India, Japan split opening singles

India's chances for a place in the prestigious Davis Cup World Group 2002 rest heavily on the doubles match after it shared the first day's honours in the singles with Japan, in the second round Asia Oceania Zone Group I rubber, in Tokyo, on Friday.

Leander Paes gave India the expected lead when he made short work of Yaoki Ishii 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 in the opening singles.

It was Paes at his usual, ruthless self as he dispatched the hapless Japanese quickly without breaking a sweat.

But Japanese No. 1 Takao Suzuki did the same to India's Mahesh Bhupathi as he levelled the tie 1-1, after beating the Indian 6-1, 6-0, 6-2.

Japan, who lost to India 4-1 the last time the two teams met in 1990, will have to muster their resources to down India's formidable doubles combination of Paes and Bhupathi on Saturday if they are to grab a place in the World Group for the first time since 1985. If they do so, it will also be their first win against India since 1930.

History, thus, favours India, who enjoy 15 consecutive wins against Japan. The Paes-Bhupathi duo also boast of a good record in Tokyo, having won the Japan Open doubles title at the same venue in October, last year.

It was the first time India had won this title since Ramesh Krishnan, presently the non-playing captain of the Indian team, won the singles title in 1986.