India in Davis Cup World Group qualifiers

Paes's histrionics over the last three days while winning both his singles and combining with Mahesh Bhupathi to win the crucial doubles, propelled India to their first ever victory over New Zealand in a Davis Cup tie. India had lost all their three encounters in 1975, 1976 and 1978.

After Paes and Bhupathi defeated Daniel Willman and James Shortall 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 in a rain-affected doubles tie, Paes gave India an unassailable 3-1 lead with a 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 2-6, 6-1 victory over Kiwi number one Mark Nielson.

Later, in an inconsequential best-of-three fifth rubber, India's Harsh Mankad beat James Shortall 7-5, 6-3.

India had stumbled at the post last year, going down to a formidable United States 1-4 at Winston-Salem, North Carolina, in the World Group qualifiers.

For Paes, it was yet another Davis Cup tie where he had to win three back-to-back matches to see India through. This time it was even tougher, as he first had to finish off the doubles first.

He cruised to 2-0 lead winning the first two sets and was leading 3-2 in the third when rain came to the rescue of Neilsen. Paes then fought off a tremendous comeback by the Kiwi, who pushed it into the decider, winning the third and fourth sets. He finally won, converting his fourth match-point after Neilsen had saved the first three.

India's nom-playing captain Ramesh Krishnan said he always had confidence in Paes, and the brief reversal in fortunes in the third and fourth sets showed only Neilsen's fighting spirit.

"I always knew that Leander (Paes) could do it. It was not as if Paes suffered a slump in the third and fourth sets, but Neilsen really picked up his game as the match progressed," Krishnan said.

A relieved Paes was happy to have helped India to their first victory over New Zealand.

"The fact that we had not won against New Zealand was always at the back of our mind," Paes said.

Paes said losing the third and fourth sets was more due to mental tiredness. "It was more of a mental tiredness," he said, adding "you have to give credit to Neilsen for the way he came back into the match."

Neilsen, 396 in ATP rankings, more than made up for his inexperience with sheer grit. The Kiwi matched the Indian, the most successful active Davis Cupper, with his power-packed game, although he lacked Paes's improvisation skills.

Showing no signs of fatigue, Paes called the shots from the word go with his crisp serve-and-volley game and forced Neilsen to save a break-point in the first game of the match.

He got the break in the fifth game after Neilsen double faulted on break-point, set up by Paes, with a deft drop shot.

Neilsen tried to undo the damage with some glorious forehand pases on either side of the court but Paes's top class serving helped him cling on the slender lead and win the first set 6-4.

In the third game of the second set, Neilsen, facing three break-points, tried to charge to the net and made volleying errors and lost serve.

He again lost serve in the fifth and ninth games but there was enough indication of what was in store for Paes as he won the sixth game before conceding the set 3-6.

Neilsen began to come forward more often and after dropping serve in the second game of the third set broke back immediately to level the scores 2-2.

Then came the rain and the Kiwi regrouped and came back to win the third and fourth sets 6-4, 6-2 to push the match into the decider.

Even as one thought that the marathon match had taken its toll on Paes's overworked legs, the amazing Indian ran away to a 5-0 lead in the decider, breaking Neilsen thrice. A dejected Kiwi showed his disgust by throwing down his racquet as he sunk into his chair.

After Neilsen managed to open his account in the fifth set by winning the sixth game, Paes went 40-0 up to have three match-points as the Indian supporters got ready to celebrate.

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