Paes powers Indian foray

The win boosted India’s hopes of reaching the 2001 Davis Cup World Group as doubles specialist Mahesh Bhupathi is widely expected to rejoin the team after a long injury layoff.

“Yes, he’ll be back and though he may not be in good form (after long break), I expect him to rise to the occasion in tight situation,” non-playing captain Ramesh Krishnan said after India’s comprehensive victory.

Bhupathi, recovering from a shoulder surgery, has just started practicing and the Indian team is expecting him back soon to take some weight off Paes’ shoulders.

Paes, knowing well that the responsibility of taking India into World Group qualifying round rested fully on him after the hosts had taken a crucial 2-1 lead by winning Saturday’s doubles, went about the task with missionary zeal and but for a slight lapse in concentration — which cost him the second set — looked focused in his endeavour.

The Indian spearhead started the first reverse singles with a bang, winning the first set 6-1 and though Lee gave him some tense moments, Paes kept his cool and went about his plans to complete the demolition job.

After winning a close third set on a tie-breaker, Paes was on the roll and the Korean looked tired under scorching heat in the fourth set.

Arguably the world’s best doubles player on the circuit, Paes broke Hyung-Taik at love in the fifth game when the Korean double-faulted under pressure facing three breakpoints.

Playing percentage game, Paes used his his excellent netplay and earned a crucial break in the fifth game before serving out for the match in the eighth game.

National grasscourt champion Syed Fazaluddin later quelled a spirited challenge of debutant Seung-Hoon Lee in the inconsequential fifth match to help India avenge the 2-3 defeat to Korea in Cheju Islands last year.

The win for Fazaluddin came as a morale-booster after the Calcutta youngster came up with a pathetic performance on the opening day against Hyung-Taik Lee to allow Korea level scores 1-1 on Friday.

While India decided to give Fazaluddin another chance to prove, Korea effected a change by replacing Yong-Il Yoon by Seung-Hoon Lee after having lost the rubber.

An experienced Fazaluddin dominated the rookie Seung-Hoon Lee to win the first set 6-0 but was taken to the distance in the second which he lost 2-7 in the tie-breaker.

Playing under scorching heat, the Korean showed signs of fatigue while Fazaluddin recovered from second set loss and converted the first matchpoint he got.

India will meet one of the 2000 World Group first round losers in the July play-offs for a place in the elite 16 of 2001, the draw for which will be made in London on April 12.

Zimbabwe, Britain, Italy, Belgium, Austria, France, The Netherlands and Switzerland are the countries that lost their first round matches early this year.

India’s second straight win over Korea at home has narrowed the all-time career scores for the two countries to 4-3. India were 2-4 in career meetings with wins coming in Coimbatore (1978) and Delhi (1991) and losses in Seoul (1980, 1991), Barooch (1989) and Sogwipo City (1999).

India has one more win over Korean through walkover in 1950s’ when Korea withdrew from the contest.