Indians floor high flying Thais

less than an hour, the Indian pair of Mahesh Bhupathi and Fazaluddin, however, quickly made up for the loss later by taking the doubles 6-3, 6-0 beating Supparat Chukawan and Danai Udomchoke.

The doubles victory was the quickest of the tournament this year as Bhupathi and Fazaluddin gelled well to beat the Thai pair in 55 minutes. Indians took an early lead in the first set when they broke Thailand in the second game. They further strengthened their lead by breaking Thai pair again in the sixth game. In the following game, Bhupathi, however, struggled with his serves and was broken. But by then India had already gained a 5-2 lead and had just to stay there for two more games to take the set.

The second set was a complete rout. With Bhupathi’s deft placings and Fazaluddin’s good serves India won all the six games in a row to wrap the match 6-3, 6-0.

Earlier, Fazaluddin had a rather easy day against Ritiiwattanapong in the first singles. Fazaluddin broke the Thai in the fourth game and rushed to a 5-3 lead. As Fazaluddin appeared to be heading for a win, where he just had to hold his serve in the ninth game, Ritiiwattanapong tried to fightback and broke the Indian. Fazaluddin was not willing to delay the victory further and broke back the Thai in the tenth game to take the set 6-4.

In the second set, Fazaluddin broke the Thai in the fourth and sixth games to take 5-1 lead. But he often struggled with his first serves and his inconsistency saw him losing the seventh game. Fazaluddin, however, held the ninth game and served out for the match.

Ever since he landed in Delhi, Mankad has not been keeping fine.

An upset stomach has been keeping him away from the courts for last two days and when he played today, Udomchoke took just 58 minutes to dump him off. According to sources, Mankad has been surviving most on fruits for two days and thus was feeling very weak. Coach and captain Ramesh Krishnan is hoping his players improve with match.

Results (Men): India bt Thailand 2-1 : Syed Fazaluddin bt Attapol Rittiwattanapong 6-4, 6-3; Harsh Mankad lost to Danai Udomchoke 1-6, 3-6; Syed Fazaluddin/ Mahesh Bhupathi bt Supparat Chukawan/ Danai Udomchoke 6-3, 6-0). Korea bt China 3-0 Seung-Hun Lee bt Yu Wang 6-2, 6-3; Yong-il Yoon bt Yu Zhang 6-3, 7-5; Hyung-Taik Lee/ Seung-Hun Lee bt Yu Wang/ Yu Zhang 6-1, 7-6 (5).