Davis Cup: Paes-Bopanna stage dramatic comeback against Serbia, keep India alive

Leander Paes hugs Rohan Bopanna

It was a must-win situation for Leander Paes and Rohan Bopanna as they went into their doubles match today against Nenad Zimonjic and Ilija Bazoljac, after India lost the firshrit two singles encounters on Friday. And it turned out to be a thrill-a-minute affair for the packed stadium in Bangalore, as Paes-Bopanna staged an electrifying comeback to defeat the Serbs and keep India alive in the tie.

Poor serving hurts India in the first set

Rohan Bopanna started things off with solid serving in the first game. But it went downhill from there for the Indians as both Paes and Bopanna failed to hold their serves in the first set.

The Serbs on the other hand served decently and did not give any break point opportunities to their opponents. They were off to a confident start and they weren’t about to let go of the initiative, as they played solid tennis to take the set 6-1.

The crowd was doing its best to spur on the Indians, but there was no mistaking the nerves from both Paes and Bopanna in those early stages of the match.

Advantage squandered in the second set

The second set saw the Indians put more pressure on Zimonjic's serve, and they broke him to love to take a 2-1 lead in the early goings. Paes then held his serve for the first time in the match to nose ahead.

The Indian pair then had their first break point chance off Bazoljac's serve, but he served three aces to prevent Serbia going two breaks down.

That proved to be the turning point, as Paes’s serve was broken again and the Serbians levelled the set at 4-4. The set was decided by a tie break which the Zimonjic-Bazoljac took 7-4.

Serbia have a chance to wrap it up, but the Indians continue to fight

Zimonjic and Bazoljac struck first in the third set as they broke Paes’s serve to go 3-2 up, putting just three games away from wrapping up the tie for Serbia. But the Indians broke right back and Bopanna held his serve to take a slim 4-3 lead.

Bazoljac's serve was then broken in the eighth game following which Paes held his serve to win the third set 6-3.

The Indian pair kept pushing hard, and Zimonjic's serve was broken in the first game of the fourth set. Paes and Bopanna were now committing fewer unforced errors, and they did not present the Serbs any break point chances in the set.

Zimonjic was put under intense pressure serving at 3-5 and the Indians made it two sets apiece with some brilliant volleying.

India hold on in dramatic final set

The fifth set saw some intense tennis as both teams were not ready to surrender their serve without a fight. There were no break point chances until the 14th game, when the Indian pair converted two chances to clinch the fifth 8-6.

This was Paes’s 41st Davis Cup doubles victory, and he rightly received tremendous applause from the crowd for his indefatigable spirit and passion. At 41, the veteran star continues to be the brightest light in Indian tennis.

Serbia now lead India 2-1 in the five match series.

Final Scoreline: 1-6, 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-3, 8-6.

The reverse singles action will take place on Sunday.