By IANS
New Delhi : India’s non-playing captain Leander Paes Sunday said their 3-2 victory against Uzbekistan in the Asia-Oceania Group I tie here was the result of great “team effort” and that the ups and downs of the last week united them.
Though in-form Rohan Bopanna lost the first reverse singles Sunday in a marathon five-setter against higher ranked and a much improved Denis Istomin 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 6-7 (1-7), 6-8, Prakash Amritraj, who featured in the tie for the first time came to the hosts’ rescue defeating second Uzbek No. 2 Farrukh Dustov in the second reverse singles in four sets 6-3, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 to take India to the semi-finals of Group I where they will face Japan in a home tie in September.
“I am very happy and relieved. I am proud of the whole team. In spite of the whole week’s ups and downs we stuck together as a team,” Paes said.
He also lauded Istomin for his lion-hearted performance. “Denis (Istomin) was remarkable. He was two sets behind but fought back to win the match.”
The 35-year-old veteran said he and Amritraj had sorted out their differences and would like to move on.
“We (me and Amritraj) supported each other. The entire incident has taught us one thing – what we say to each other should remain confidential.”
“Before the start of the second singles, PS (as Amritraj is better known among his team-mates) told me that ‘let’s put behind us all that has happened. It’s you and me who will be there in the fifth match’,” said Paes, with moist eyes.
He also thanked his luck for gambling by not playing Amritraj in the first singles as well as in the doubles, saying: “I am lucky that the strategy worked out. It was heartening to see that the boys went there and fought hard.”
Amritraj also came in support of his captain, who a few days back termed the 24-year-old US-settled Indian’s move to go out the team hotel for a birthday party after which he had a stomach bug as “unprofessional”.
“Whenever Leander (Paes) throws us in, it’s our duty to fight and I think all of us did that over the weekend,” he said.
Amritraj, who is considered as India’s best grass court player, also said Sunday’s match against Dustov was by no means his best outing on his favourite surface.
“It was not my best quality grass court match. I was not serving big, I was just trying to put my first serve in.
Paes, who holds India’s best record in Davis Cup, also praised Bopanna for his performance. “Rohan played excellent tennis throughout the weekend. He has matured a lot as a player. Probably, he has played the best grass court tennis I have seen him play.”
Bopanna, however, said: I played well in the first two sets, but not after that. Down two sets he (Istomin) started returning well, but I must say I gave him a chance to comeback.”
He said the tie against the Uzbeks has infused a tremendous confidence in his own abilities.
On preparation for the match against Japan in September, Paes said: “I still haven’t planned anything for the next tie. We are still going through the euphoria of beating the Uzbeks against whom we had lost 4-1 last time.”
However, he said he himself would be fit for the tie.
Paes even clarified that there is no ego problem between him and his estranged partner Mahesh Bhupathi.
“In every single tie I choose my players depending on form. I am even happy to sit myself out for Mahesh or Som (Somdev Dev Varman).”
Asked whether he and Bhupathi will play some tournaments together before their Beijing Olympics, he said: “I was looking forward to playing with Mahesh this week.”