Tennis: India's deadly duo reunite

Indian star Leander Paes won't discuss his break-up with doubles partner Mahesh Bhupathi but confirmed yesterday that they will reunite against New Zealand for what could be the key Davis Cup doubles rubber in Wellington.

Paes and Bhupathi, who share a string of ATP tour titles including the Wimbledon and French Open doubles crowns, ended a seven-year reign at the top of world doubles when they parted last month.

Paes made the surprise decision off-limits yesterday but confirmed he would reunite with Bhupathi for the tie, which has a promotion-relegation match for a place in the world group as its carrot, at the Renouf Tennis Centre.

"Davis Cup is still the ultimate for me," he said. "India has built a great tradition over the last 15 years in Davis Cup and I will do anything to keep that going because that's our responsibility.

"I don't care who I play, or who I play with."

New Zealand and India have played three Davis Cup ties, all in the 1970s. New Zealand, during a golden era for tennis, won all three and Paes said India "would have its hands full" breaking their duck against the now lowly ranked Kiwis.

"World rankings count for little at Davis Cup level," he said.

"We have not played here for a long, long time and playing away from home is always difficult."

The two teams watched each other for the first time yesterday after training at the Renouf Tennis Centre.

Paes was hoping a large contingent of Wellington's Indian population would attend the tie.

"There are 1.2 billion Indians in this world so wherever we go we get supporters coming out of the woodwork," he said.

Meanwhile, New Zealand's players are not about to blow their chance of mixing it with the big boys by being underprepared.

Non-playing captain Glenn Wilson has had his team practising outside in strong winds.

"There is a good chance it will be windy for some of the tie, so it is important that we get used to it, to go through things mentally," Wilson said.

He and the players had not thought too much about the tie and its outcome until now, preferring to concentrate on feeling comfortable about their individual games.

Mark Nielsen, for example, had never been thought of as a great player in windy conditions, Wilson said, yet he handled it well.

"That is the sort of thing that helps build confidence," he said.

The omens for a New Zealand win are strong. The home side won both Davis Cup ties held in Wellington.

In 1985 the team of Chris Lewis, Russell Simpson, Kelly Evernden and Steve Guy whitewashed China 5-0 at the Wellington Show Building.

Ten years later Brett Steven, James Greenhalgh, Steven Downs and Scott Clark beat Taiwan at the Renouf Centre.

Wilson said he had a playing order in his mind, but he would wait until today's draw before making a firm decision.

- NZPA