Paes plays it again

Japan’s Gouichi Motomura recovered from a slow start while India’s Leander Paes cruised to victory as the two nations split the si...

Japan’s Gouichi Motomura recovered from a slow start while India’s Leander Paes cruised to victory as the two nations split the singles matches of their Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Group I clash here today.

Motomura defeated Prakash Amritraj 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 in the first match at Utsubo Tennis Center as Japan got off to winning start in the second round tie.

India bounced back in the second singles match when Paes defeated Takao Suzuki 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4. Paes looked to be on his way to a straight sets victory before Suzuki took the third set 6-3.

Chances for a Japanese comeback were dashed when Paes broke serve to go up 5-4 in the final set and then sealed the win with a brilliant crosscourt forehand.

The doubles matches will be played tomorrow and the reverse singles matches on Sunday. The winner of the tie will advance to September’s playoff ties for the World Group.

Motomura said, “I’ve played a lot of five-set matches recently. You can’t get too down on yourself if you lose the first set and I just told myself to battle back.”

Motomura won the first game of the first set and then lost the next five before coming back. “It took me a while to adjust to the mood,” said Motomura. “I started to feel better midway though the first set.”

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Motomura broke Amritraj’s serve to go up 5-4 in the final set and then served out to win the match in 2 hours and 21 minutes. “To break his serve and go up 5-4 was huge,” said Motomura. “We really wanted to win this first match and start things off on the right foot.”