Lee-Hesh magic makes it 1-2

R Eswar

Chennai, Sep 18 (PTI) Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi
recorded their 24th consecutive Davis Cup doubles win to keep
India afloat in the World Group play-off tie against Brazil,
reducing the margin of the tie to 1-2 here on Saturday.

The 'Indian Express' faced some stiff competition from
the Brazilian pair before prevailing 6-4 7-6(5) 6-1 in two
hours and 19 minutes in the doubles rubber.
The Indian pair saved four set points after trailing 1-4
in the tie-break of the second set to take a comfortable 2-0
lead before racing away for a win.
Paes, who completed 20 years in Davis Cup, served out the
match for India.
India came to the doubles rubber after heart-breaking
singles defeats of Rohan Bopanna and Somdev Devvarman, who
lost close matches on Friday.
Now Bopanna and Somdev will have to win both the reverse
singles on Sunday's if India are to advance to the World
Group.
Somdev will play the first reverse singles against world
number 27 Thomaz Bellucci and Bopanna will take on 75th-ranked
Ricardo Mello.
India had made the elite World Group after 11 years after
beating South Africa in an away tie last year, but lost in the
first round to Russia to be relegated to the play-off
competition.
If the hosts players fail to win both the matches, India
will be back to Asia/Oceania Zone Group I.
Brazil have not entered the World Group since 2003 and
have failed to clear the play-off hurdle in the last few
attempts.
Paes and Bhupathi, despite not playing together on the
ATP circuit, were as good a force as they were before
separating and were on top of their game today.
The Brazilians were a little slow off the blocks but
gradually got their rhythm and played tough tennis barring the
lop-sided third set.

Paes and Bhupathi remain unbeaten in the Davis Cup
doubles rubbers since 1996 when they had lost to Jonas
Bjorkman and Nicklas Kulti in the World Group quarter-finals
against Sweden.
Lee-Hesh began by breaking the Brazilians in the very
first game of the match and were soon up 4-0 with a double
break.
The Brazilians changed their tactics with Melo starting
returning the serves to the feet of the Indians, creating
three breakpoints.
The Indians saved two but could not save the game as Melo
hit a backhand winner to earn the first break for his side.
Paes hit two stunning backhand winners in the ninth game
to create another break chance but Melo staved off the threat
by a strong serve.
The second set was a close affair with both the teams in
full flow. The Indians were up to some good challenge from
their rivals.
Melo, at six feet eight inches, was yet again successful
in his strategy to land the service returns near the boots of
Paes and created two break opportunities.
However, the experienced Indians escaped unscathed and
saved to more set points on Bhupathi's serve in the 12th game
to stretch the second set to tie-breaker.
A mini break of serve of Paes put the Brazilians 4-1
ahead but the 'Indian Express' refused to throw in the towel
and made it 5-5.
Bhupathi sent a hot service-return off Melo on the set
point which the Brazilian failed to handle, triggering a wild
celebration by the Indian pair.
The chest-bump after winning that point reminded the
Indian tennis fans of the strong chemistry the duo shared
before choosing to play with different partners.
The third set became one-sided after Soares was broken in
the second game. The visitors had lost it mentally and the
Indian win was just a matter of time. PTI RE