Tennis: Indians grab 2-1 advantage in cup tie

5.15pm

India took a 2-1 lead in the Davis Cup Asia/Oceania group one tennis tie against New Zealand in Invercargill after winning the doubles in straight sets today.

The former world No 1 doubles combination of Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes were too experienced and too quick around the net for their New Zealand counterparts Mark Nielsen and Matt Prentice, winning 6-3 6-4 7-6 (7-4) in just over two hours.

New Zealand used debutant Matt Prentice, 23, who is studying at the University of Oklahoma in the United States.

Prentice competed well against his highly regarded opponents and showed he has potential for the future, especially at a level way beyond anything he has experienced before.

Although not winning a set the New Zealanders at least made the Indians fight for each game.

A major concern for the home side was their inability to break India's opponents serve.

There was just one break of serve in the first set, with Prentice losing his serve in the seventh game for the Indians to go up 4-3, after he had won his first game on serve to love.

In the second set Prentice was broken in the first game of the set, and the remaining service games were all held with relative ease.

In the third set, Prentice served two aces to take the score to 6-5 before Paes held serve to force the tiebreak.

In the tiebreak New Zealand had a 4-3 lead but a missed volley by Prentice let the Indians back in and they quickly closed out the match.

The reverse singles will be played tomorrow, with Nielsen set to play Harsh Mankad before Simon Rea takes on Paes.

- NZPA