Indian doubles pair defeated Serbia's Nenad Zimonjic and Ilija Bozoljac in five set
India's Leander Paes, facing camera, hugs his partner Rohan Bopanna to celebrate their win against Serbia's Nenad Zimonjic and Ilija Bozoljac during their Davis Cup tennis World Group play-off tie between India and Serbia, in Bangalore
Bengaluru: Veteran Leander Paes and Rohan Bopanna won the crucial doubles on Saturday to keep India afloat in the Davis Cup World Group play-off tie against Serbia here on Saturday. With the hosts 0-2 down in Friday’s opening singles, it was left to 41-year-old Paes and Bopanna to keep the tie alive with a thrilling five-set win over Nenad Zimonjic and Ilija Bozoljac.
The Indians, cheered by some 3,000 home fans, fought back after losing the first two sets to win 1-6, 6-7 (4/7), 6-3, 6-3, 8-6 in three hours of enthralling tennis. India will still need to win both the reverse singles on Sunday to return to the elite 16-nation World Group after spending the last two years in the Asia-Oceania zonal competition. India’s No.1 Somdev Devvarman will take on Dusan Lajovic in the first match before Yuki Bhambri meets Filip Krajinovic. Serbia, the 2010 champions, are without World No.1 Novak Djokovic, Janko Tipsarevic and Viktor Troicki for the play-off tie.
( Source : agencies )
Next Story
