Paes-Bhupathi give India unbeatable lead

India stamped their superiority over Lebanon all over again as the pair of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi carved out an easy doubles win to clinch the Davis Cup Asia Oceania Zone tie with an unassailable 3-0 lead in Beirut on Saturday.

The Indian pair was never threatened in its 6-2, 6-1, 6-3 demolition of the Lebanese team of Ali Hamadeh and Patrick Chucri in a one hour 23 minute match.

India will take on the winner of ongoing match between New Zealand and Indonesia in the next round of the zonal qualifiers.

"We had come here to win and we are obviously happy to get the job done," said India's non-playing captain Ramesh Krishnan. "We are now keenly following the match between New Zealand and Indonesia."

The Indian pair's domination of the match was expected though the Lebanese did try to hang in for some time in the first and third sets.

The first four games of the opening set went with serve before the Indians broke Hamadeh in the fifth and Churcri in the seventh to take a 5-2 lead. Paes then served out the set at love to take it 6-2.

Cracking some blistering returns, the Indians broke Hamadeh again in the very first game of the second set which saw the Lebanese pair crack.

Earlier report:
India take 2-0 lead over Lebanon