Another day at Davis Cup office

Paes is on a comeback after undergoing surgery in Florida last August for a nonmalignant brain lesion.

India entered the final day with a 2-1 lead but found themselves under pressure when Nielsen won the first reverse singles 6-4, 6-3, 6-1 over newcomer Vishal Punna.

Paes decided to nominate Punna after Indian No. 1 Harsh Mankad struggled on the fast court surface in the opening singles.

Under greater pressure when he quickly conceded the first set to Rae, Paes ground out a vital service break in the second, then swept through the last two sets as Rae faltered. India will play the winner of the Japan-Indonesia match at Jakarta in the second round of the Asia-Oceania zone.