Doubles ace Leander Paes made a triumphant return to singles play when he beat Mark Neilsen 6-2, 6-3, 7-6 (7/2) in the second singles to enable India tie the Davis Cup Asia-Oceania zone Group 1 first round match against New Zealand 1-1, in Invercargill, New Zealand, on Friday.
The Indian captain, who returned to competitive play only this month at the Australian Open after recovering from a brain lesion, last played singles in April in the Davis Cup match at home against New Zealand, which India won 4-1.
Displaying good court-craft and clean ground strokes, the unranked Paes had the Kiwi No.1 on the run from the start despite being under pressure after India No.1 Harsh Mankad was beaten by New Zealand's Davis Cup debutant Simon Rea 4-6, 1-6, 6-7(2) in the opening singles.
He kept Nielsen on the baseline and sent precision down-the-line winners to take the first two sets in quick time.
However, he relaxed his hold in the third set, which allowed the Kiwi to establish a 5-3 lead. But he pulled up his socks in time to take the set into the tie-breaker, in which he served two aces and won without much fuss.
Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi will pair up on Saturday against Nielsen and Rea in doubles. The reverse singles are scheduled for Sunday.
