TNT Sports
India survive doubles
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Published 26/09/2005 at 09:37 GMT+1
Former world number one pair Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes clinched the doubles to keep India alive against favourites Sweden in their rain-hit Davis Cup World Group playoff tie on day four to reduce Sweden's advantage to 2-1.
Eurosport
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Captain Paes and Bhupathi displayed the class that netted them three grand slam titles together, rallying to a 3-6 6-3 6-4 6-3 victory over experienced Jonas Bjorkman and Simon Aspelin.
Bjorkman and former Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson had given the Swedes a 2-0 overnight lead after claiming three-set victories over Prakash Amritraj and Rohan Bopanna respectively.
The tie spilled into the fourth day after heavy rain washed out the second day's play and delayed resumption on Sunday due to the slippery grass court.
Bjorkman and Aspelin were leading 6-3 1-3 overnight when bad light halted the match.
Bhupathi and Paes, regular partners on the tour until parting ways four years ago due to personal differences, showed their touch on resumption while Bjorkman suffered a slump in form.
Bjorkman, who lost serve overnight before play was stopped, dished out three double faults and staved off three set points before holding serve and make it 3-5.
The Indian pair kept on top with Paes in particular outstanding at the net to quell Swedish hopes of a comeback. In the fourth set, the Swedes saved four match points on Aspelin's serve before breaking for victory.
Johansson will face Amritraj in the first reverse singles.
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