It was heartbreak for the near-capacity crowd as Radek Stepanek and rookie Adam Pavlasek outplayed Leander Paes and Rohan Bopanna 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 and put the Czech Republic 2-1 ahead in the Davis Cup tennis World Group play-off at the RK Khanna Stadium here on Saturday.
Into his 26th year in Davis Cup, the 42-year-old Paes, who exactly a year ago had partnered Bopanna against Serbia in winning a thriller from being down two sets and a break, was understandably all praise for the 21-year-old Pavlasek.
“Adam played unbelievable,” said Paes. “I tip my hat to Adam.”
The odd man out among the four on court — he did not even sport the Czech shirt but only the colours — Pavlasek was the match-winner as he volleyed brilliantly and more importantly overcame bouts of nerves with admirable poise.
On a warm and sunny afternoon, after overnight rain had added to the humidity, the match looked set to be a lively one as Paes and Bopanna broke the young lad in the 10th game, when Pavlasek was serving for the set.
Bopanna’s serve had been broken earlier in the sixth game, but Pavlasek double-faulted on set-point before Paes swung into an overhead volley to break back.
It was here that Paes dropped serve after a holding a game-point. Stepanek, a regular partner with Paes on the professional circuit, served out the set with assurance. In fact, Stepanek was the anchor through the match as he not only guided his younger partner but also played sharp, flawless tennis.
“Adam played a great match. It was important to break them for 6-5. I had told Adam that they would play him most of the time, and take me out of play at the net. He was extraordinary,” said Stepanek.
Once the Czechs won the first set, the momentum was firmly with them, as the Indian serve was broken five times in the next two sets and the match headed to a quick two-hour-11-minute finish.
The Indian pair converted the only two breakpoints against Pavlasek, while Stepanek did not face a breakpoint at all.
“I was nervous. I am happy to have the experience of winning two matches for the team in doubles,” said Pavlasek.
“We played [together] for the first time. I was careful about when to say something and when to keep quiet,” said the 37-year-old Stepanek, who allowed Pavlasek to bloom nicely.
While Bopanna, ranked 13th in the world, took responsibility for the defeat by saying that he could have played much better, Paes said he was sharing 50 per cent of the blame. Paes said the pair could not get into a rhythm, while Bopanna said things did not really work out and thought that he had perhaps tried too hard.
It was only the second defeat in the last 20 doubles matches in Davis Cup for Paes, and the second time with Bopanna after the loss in Uzbekistan in 2012.
Paes also praised Bopanna as “one hell of a tennis player” on whom he had tremendous faith and said the two could go for a medal in the Rio Olympics next year, if the game and fitness levels was sustained, and the belief stayed firm.
This tie could still come alive if Yuki Bhambri plays his best tennis in the fourth rubber against Jiri Vesely on Sunday.
“The fourth match is going to be very interesting. We have a big chance to take it to the fifth rubber,” said Paes.
For the quality of tennis that Somdev Devvarman played against the 40th ranked Jiri Vesely on Friday, he deserves the courtesy of a ‘live’ rubber in the reverse singles.
The result: Czech Republic 2 leads India 1 (Radek Stepanek & Adam Pavlasek bt Leander Paes & Rohan Bopanna 7-5, 6-2, 6-2).
