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Sunday, Mar 06, 2005

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Winning lead for India

By Kamesh Srinivasan

CHIP OF THE OLD BLOCK: Vijay Amritraj, hero of many a Davis Cup win for India, greets son Prakash after he won the second singles on Saturday. — Photo: S. Subramanium

NEW DELHI, MARCH 5. The move proved a masterstroke, and captain Leander Paes sported a big smile, as the Indian team took an unbeatable 3-0 lead against China in the Davis Asia-Oceania group `I' tie at the R. K. Khanna Stadium here on Saturday.

On a warm day, a big contrast to the rainy and gloomy conditions on the first day, Prakash Amritraj provided a flying start for the host, by completing unfinished business against Wang Yu Jr. in a mere 46 minutes this morning as he cruised to a 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 triumph. It was the first win for Prakash in Davis Cup in five matches.

Later in the afternoon, the formidable Indian doubles team of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi was in a spot of bother as it lost the third set, but asserted itself with a 7-6(13-11), 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 triumph in two hours and 46 minutes against Wang Yu Jr. and Zhu Ben-Qiang.

"It is a long time since we won a tie in two days. I had a tough call to make, but am glad that I stuck to my guns. I'm happy and relaxed now. Both Harsh Mankad and Prakash proved our faith by playing very well and have done us proud,'' said Paes.

The momentum was provided by 21-year-old Prakash, as he served and volleyed with a touch of authority. Resuming at 6-3, 2-3, Prakash came out firing as he conceded just one point in his first three service games.

Wang Yu was struggling with his game despite the bright conditions and the court playing much better. Prakash broke him in the seventh game, and could have won the second set in the ninth game, but for the Chinese left-hander showing courage and craft in saving three setpoints.

In the third set, Prakash took a 2-1 lead with a break in the third game as he spanked a return winner on the second breakpoint, but two doublefaults saw him drop the fourth game. To his credit, Prakash wrapped up the match promptly by allowing the Chinese a mere three points in the next four games.

Aces

Prakash fired 15 aces and seven service winners in the match. He hit 19 other winners and eight of them were volleys. He had four doublefaults.

Wang Yu had 11 aces and eight double faults, apart from 16 other winners. He was more erratic than Prakash who had things under control throughout, rain or shine.

"It feels great. Winning the first tie, that too at home is special, especially with my grandparents watching me on television. I was warmed up well and was happy to close out the match in fine conditions,'' said Prakash.

Great job

Wang Yu was all praise for Prakash and the Indian doubles team. "Prakash did a great job. He didn't miss many balls. His serve, volley and groundstrokes were all very good. I wasn't doing a good job on my first serve. I couldn't play my game. I felt slippery throughout,'' said Wang Yu, who was quick to say that he had played better the previous day.

Talking about the doubles, Wang Yu said that he was happy playing Paes and Bhupathi, the tennis super stars, and to learn from them.

"We had our chances in the first set, but we missed them,'' said Wang Yu.

Though the doubles match went into four sets, there was no doubt about the supremacy of the Indian team. In fact, it meant a longer entertainment for the huge crowd that had come to see the former world No.1 pair in action.

The first set went into the tie-break, and the Indian duo saved three setpoints to clinch the initiative after 69 minutes. Wang Yu buried a volley into the net in his anxiety to put it away, and that helped the Indian pair convert its fourth setpoint in that first set.

Thereafter, Paes and Bhupathi dropped a mere five points in their next seven service games. However, two doublefaults and a couple of volleying errors saw Paes drop serve in the sixth game of the third set. The Indian pair saved a setpoint on Bhupathi's serve in the eighth game, but the Chinese converted their fouth setpoint on Wang Yu's serve in the ninth.

In the fourth set, Paes and Bhupathi raced to the finish, breaking Wang Yu in the second and sixth games. Bhupathi saved two breakpoints on serve in the seventh to serve out the rubber that took his record with Paes in Cup play to 16-2.

The duo's two defeats had come against Jacco Eltingh and Paul Haarhuis in Jaipur and against Jonas Bjorkman and Nicklas Kulti in Kolkata in 1996 when Indian beat Holland and lost to Sweden in the World Group competition.

"The court was quite patchy and it was tough to make the returns. Mahesh's return is one of the best. The court was not giving us any kind of rhythm,'' said Paes.

While the Chinese captain Xie Zhao said that his team would be better prepared for the next tie against India back home, Paes said that he would stick to Harsh and Prakash to play the reverse singles on Sunday.

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