`Indian Express` keeps country’s hopes alive

Zeenews Bureau

Chennai: Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi defeated Marcelo Melo and Bruno Soares 6-4, 7-6 (5), 6-1 in the doubles rubber of the Davis Cup World Group play-off tie against Brazil. The victory would keep India’s hopes alive in the Davis Cup despite losing first two singles yesterday. India are now trail 0-1 and are desperate to win tomorrow’s reverse singles. India`s hopes to re-enter the Davis Cup World Group suffered a big jolt as the hosts conceded a 0-2 lead against Brazil, following defeats of Somdev Devvarman and Rohan Bopanna in the action-packed singles rubbers on the opening day of the play-off tie, here today. Running high on emotions, both the matches lasted over four hours and went to the wire as players from the two teams fought tooth and nail till the last point, in a stunning display of stamina and hunger for win. Bopanna squandered three match points in the final set to lose the first singles 7-6 (2) 6-7 (7) 5-7 6-4 8-10 to world number 27 Thomaz Bellucci. Gritty Somdev put up a valiant fight but could not level the tie for India as he lost 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(3), 2-6, 4-6 to Ricardo Mello, who is ranked 38 places above him at 75.