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Leander powers India past China

Playing some of his best tennis in extreme conditions, Leander Paes did it again for India as he blasted past Chinese number one Zhang Yu in straight sets to take the country to the Davis Cup Asia-Oceania zone second round.

Playing in a track suit in almost freezing temperatures in Lang Fang City near Beijing, Paes, hero of many a memorable victory for the country, ripped past his opponent in style, winning 6-0, 6-2, 6-3 in just over 90 minutes in the first reverse singles.

With this win, India took an unbeatable 3-1 lead in the best-of-five encounter against China. They now play the winner of the Japan-Thailand tie in the second round. In case India plays Japan, they will have to travel to Japan. But if it is Thailand they face, the latter will travel to India.

This is the first Davis Cup victory for India on foreign soil after they defeated France on the latter's home courts in 1993. A second-round victory will earn them a chance to play for a place in the elite world group of 16, against one of the eight losers from the group.

India had shared honours on the first day on Friday with Paes winning his match over Chinese southpaw Wang Yu 4-6, 6-0, 6-0, 6-4 and Syed Fazaluddin losing the other rubber to Zhang 4-6, 1-6, 0-6.

But the visitors' prospects brightened when they took the doubles on Saturday. Paes teamed up with his doubles partner, Mahesh Bhupathi, to take the country to a 2-1 lead as the duo beat the Chinese pair of Yang Jing Zhu and Xu Ran 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 in 110 minutes.

Bhupathi had decided against playing the singles as he is still nursing a shoulder strain he sustained during the Australian Open last month.

Conditions were quite tough for the Indians with slow courts and heavy balls added to the extremely low temperatures.

In Sunday's match, Paes, cheered on by a sparse but encouraging Indian crowd in the indoor stadium, completely dominated the proceedings over his opponent who seemed to have no answer to his superbly spirited display. Paes broke his opponent six times in the match while the latter was not able to equalise even once.

The Indian number one began the first set in top gear as he tore the Chinese apart with superb returns of serve and classy placements. He broke Zhang throughout while retaining his own serve with ease to take the set 6-0 in just 23 minutes.

The second set was not much different for Zhang, though he was able to hold on to two of his four serves. Paes, who never looked in any trouble and never faced even a single break point in the entire match, raced to a 4-1 lead after breaking his opponent in the fourth.

The only time Zhang gave the Indian any real opposition was in the seventh game when Paes had to stave off a game point. But Paes overcame two deuce points to retain his serve.

The Indian then broke his opponent in the eighth game to take the second set 6-2.

The third set, which was the last chance for Zhang to stay in the match and keep his country's Davis Cup hopes alive, saw him hold on to his serve till the sixth game. But with the pressure mounting, he could not withstand Paes's onslaught and lost his serve in the eighth game to give the Indian a crucial 5-3 lead.

The Indian ace then served the set and match out, finishing with a blasting serve for a well-deserved victory.

The inconsequential second return singles was not played.

RESULTS:

Friday (singles): Leander Paes beat Wang Yu 4-6, 6-0, 6-0, 6-4;
Syed Fazaluddin lost to Zhang Yu 4-6, 1-6, 0-6

Saturday: Leander Paes/Mahesh Bhupathi beat Yang Jing Zhu/Xu Ran 6-2, 6-4, 6-4

Sunday (Reverse single): Leander Paes beat Zhang Yu 6-0, 6-2, 6-3

Result: India beat China 3-1 in the best-of-five encounter.

UNI

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