Paes sets record as India down China
Tianjin, April 7: Tennis icon Leander Paes became the most successful doubles player in the history of Davis Cup with a record 43rd win before young guns Ramkumar Ramanathan and Prajnesh Gunneswaran pulled off the must- win rubbers as India advanced to the World Group Play- offs with a sensational 3- 2 win over China here on Saturday.
Everything depending on how they fared in the do- ordie doubles rubber, the 44year- old Paes and Rohan Bopanna downed a fighting Chinese pair of Mao Xin Gong and Ze Zhang 5- 7, 7- 6 ( 5), 7- 6 ( 3) to keep India afloat in the second round Asia/ Oceania Group I tie.
Ramkumar Ramanathan, who copped criticism from captain Mahesh Bhupathi for his lackluster show in the opening singles, redeemed his reputation by defeating Di Wu 7- 6 ( 4), 6- 3.
The win levelled the tie 22.
Captain Bhupathi then played a masterstroke by playing left- handed Prajnesh Gunneswaran instead of Sumit Nagal in the tie- deciding fifth rubber against the Chinese teen sensation Yibing Wu and the Chennai boy did not disappoint as he delivered a 6- 4, 6- 2 win to seal the tie for India.
Prajnesh had come into the side after Yuki Bhambri pulled out due to an abdomen injury. The southpaw was fluent in his strokes and played fearless brand of tennis, going for winners.
An ecstatic Bhupathi was also full of praise for the team.
“We played and more importantly fought as a team like we are capable of and it translated into results. I have said since I have taken over as captain this is the first time in the history of Indian tennis we have so much depth in the men’s game and with Yuki missing, I was able to call on three others who delivered for us,” Bhupathi told said.
“We are ecstatic with the way we were able to turn this tie around. Doing it away from 2 0 down is even more special,” he added.
Asked about his decision to field Prajnesh instead of Nagal, Bhupathi explained: “He’s good on hard courts and after seeing the kid play on day one I didn’t think Sumit’s game would match up well to him, Prajnesh has been looking good in practice and was hungry to play so I took a punt.”
Prajnesh, playing only his second Davis Cup tie, being a left- hander could counter Yibing from different angles and he also had the experience of playing on slow surfaces in China. So it proved to be a great tactic from the captain.
It is only for the second time in India’s Davis Cup history that the team has emerged victorious in a tie after being down 0- 2. However, this win has come in a new format in which best of three set matches are being played at zone level ties.