Fazal undoes Paes8217; good work

But an average performance by number two Fazaluddin, who raised fears he could end up the weak link and undo Indian aspirations as he struggled with his serves and returns and dampened the spirits after the commanding performance by Paes at the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association grasscourts.

Fazaluddin went down to Lee 4-6 5-7 2-6 in one hour, 45 minutes to make Saturday8217;s doubles rubber a do or die affair for the hosts if they are to keep momentum going into the final day of the five-match affair.

With heavy responsibility on the 25-year-old National grasscourt champion to win and put the hosts on a firm footing, Fazaluddin played an erractic game to allow Lee to dictate terms with whiplash forehand returns from the start.

Earlier, 26-year-old Paes played a percentage game at the outset and then unleashed his attacking game at right moments to shut out Yoon without breaking much sweat in hot conditions.

A fired up Paes, who had lost both his previous clashes against the much lower ranked Yoon, never allowed his opponent gain any rhythm as he served steadily and maintained pressure on his opponent right through.

Paes cashed in fully on a favourable draw gained by India to score his first win over Yoon in three career meetings. Wary of his rival8217;s ability to run down anything, Paes served consistently and blasted 11 aces to Yoon8217;s three and kept himself on course by playing the big points with precision to make up for committing more double faults than the lean Korean.

In the first set, Paes opened with an ace but was stretched to deuce by Yoon in the first game. But the Indian fired two successive aces to hold serve and effected the crucial break in the 10th game to pocket the first set 6-4.

Paes, who slowly built pressure on Yoon8217;s serve after the Korean had gone up 30-0 with the help of an ace. But Paes hustled his opponent by returning effectively and charged the net to wrong foot his opponent.

After earning the first set point, Paes fired a down-the-line forehand return to wrap up the set in 35 minutes. Buoyed by the success, Paes broke his opponent in the second game and raced to a 4-1 lead in the next set.

Winning the point against Yoon to effect the break was the best effort by Paes in the match. After a long rally, the Korean lobbed accurately, but Paes raced from the net to make an athletic return on the turn to convert it into a winner.

The rest was easy as Yoon, trailing 2-5 and serving to stay in the set, double-faulted at 30-40 which helped the Indian land the set 6-2 in 25 minutes.

Paes8217; losses to Yoon 8212; in the 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games singles quarter-final and in the Davis Cup first round zonal tie in Cheju Island in Korea last year 8212; had caused worries whether he would be able to counter his tenacious opponent.

With the hot conditions favouring him, Paes still seemed to be struggling in the third set as Yoon stretched him in two games and even held a breakpoint.

The set went on serve till 4-3 when Paes unleashed blistering forehand and backhand returns to hold two breakpoints. Yoon saved the first, but Paes effected perfect backhand return down the line for the break and 5-3 lead.

Serving for the match, Paes lost an easy point showing excessive aggression but gained two matchpoints and sealed the issue with an ace.

National grasscourt champion Fazaluddin looked pathetic under scorching heat as Lee made his intentions clear from the beginning. After winning the first game at love, Fazaluddin double faulted in the third and volleyed long at breakpoint to hand the first break to Lee.

Fazaluddin fired two aces against Lee8217;s three but whiplash returns from the Korean weighed more heavy on the Indian8217;s mind who netted 70 per cent volleys in desperation. PTI