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Paes takes India through

Polly Wilson in Lucknow

Grass, Ivan Lendl once famously said, is for the cows. Well, it's also for Leander Paes.

The Indian, an Olympic bronze medallist and hero on numerous occasions on the Davis Cup stage, proved once again today in the abode of the nawabs that when playing for the country, there is hardly anyone as good as him.

Taking on Lebanon's No 1 Hicham Zaatini in a crucial fourth rubber -- India had lost Saturday's doubles and were leading 2-1 going into the final day -- there was just no stopping Paes. He served well, volleyed well, was immaculate from the backcourt, sharp on his angles, and just too quick on his feet. His 6-3, 6-1, 6-4 victory gave India an unassailable 3-1 lead; it was only ironic that Syed Fazaluddin went on to lose the dead fifth rubber to Ali Hamadeh later.

As Lebanon's non-playing captain Ramon Katourra said after the match, "Everything went according to us in this tie, except for the first day when Fazal beat Zaatini. Had we gone into the second day with the tie poised at 1-1, we could have looked at winning it in the fifth rubber, as you can see by the result."

His words did have a lot of truth in them, something that does not say much for the Indian second string.

In the absence of the injured Mahesh Bhupathi, Paes was expected to rise to the occasion and take India through. He did, but it's not something he can be expected to do time and time again.

"Leander's been doing this for 10 years or so now," said Ramesh Krishnan, the Indian non-playing captain, "one cannot just expect him to carry on, someone must come out of the current system and take care of situations such as these."

When India plays South Korea in its next Cup assignment on New Delhi's warm April grass, things will get even tougher. In Mahesh's absence, Fazal & Co will hopefully pull up their socks by then.

Rain fell in abundance on Saturday evening at Lucknow, making this beautiful north Indian city fresher than ever. For Lebanon, however, nothing could have been worse. Grass in itself was a problem, but playing on wet grass -- with the ball keeping lower and the bounce even more unpredictable -- was going to be a no-win situation against Paes. Leander, as he mastered the conditions with his deft foot movements and breathtaking passes, proved that those fears were not at all unfounded.

"Leander was brilliant today," Kattoura had to concede. "He played the perfect match and just finished things off in great style."

Paes, however, felt it was just another day in office. "I played a good match but certainly not a great one," he said with just a touch of arrogance. "I was eager to do well and things fell into place rather nicely. The conditions suited my style of play and I guess it was all okay in the end."

Lebanon is over, but Korea may not be an easy opponent next up. "They have really troubled us in the past," admitted Ramesh, "and we'll have to be much better prepared for them, though we have the homecourt advantage."

South Korea beat India 3-2 in terribly cold conditions at Seogwipo City last year. It is perhaps time to get one back, and fry a little bit of Korean skin under the April Delhi sun.