Czechs take lead as Paes-Boppana lose Davis Cup doubles

The Czech Republic's Radek Stepanek and Adam Pavlasek routed Indian pair Leander Paes and Rohan Bopanna in straight sets on the second day of the Davis Cup World Group doubles play-offs Saturday.

The visitors gave a sterling performance, beating the match favourites in three straight sets 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 in front of the large home crowd at the R. K. Khanna Stadium in New Delhi.

Stepanek, ranked 145 in the world, and his Davis Cup debutant partner Pavlasek, ranked 268, took the lead after they broke service in the first set, with Indian pair Bopanna and Paes -- ranked 13 and 33 -- completely outplayed in the next two sets.

"To pull out a win against such a great team, Rohan and Paes -- they are the two great champions. It worked well for us today," Stepanek said after the match, which lasted for two hours and nine minutes.
"I have to say it to Adam that it was his second Davis Cup match playing against a top team in the world and playing them the way he played, hats off," Stepanek, the former doubles number one said.  

Overnight rain in capital pushed the humidity to 100 percent with players taking breaks to refresh themselves with ice towels and chilled water bottles.

India is down 2-1 against the visitors in the playoffs, with two reverse single rubbers scheduled for Sunday.

Paes and Bopanna had a successful season this year, with Paes winning the US Open, and the pair were expected to continue the winning streak on the home court.

Three-time champions and Davis Cup powerhouse Czech Republic are fighting to keep intact their record of not dropping out of the competition's elite since 2006. India last made it to the World Group in 2011.

The visitors are without their top player, the world number six Tomas Berdych, who is seeking a seventh straight Masters berth.
Source: AFP