Leander Paes Injury Big Blow for India but Welcome Boost for South Africa
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Johannesburg - Suffering apparently from shoulder and elbow injuries incurred while he won the men's doubles title with Czech Lucas Dlouhy at the recent United States Open, Indian doubles ace Leander Paes catapulted out of this week-end's crucial World Group Davis Cup tie at Ellis Park - tilting the odds between what appeared well-matched teams in the direction of South Africa reports The South African Press Association.
There was, nevertheless, a strong element of intrigue about the withdrawal of the diminutive doubles specialist who has notched up 10 grand slam titles - considering the fact that he leapt into Dlouhy's arms like a gazelle after the pair had beaten fellow-Indian Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles in the final at Flushing Meadows in a demonstration of agility not associated with a tennis player stricken with injuries.
What is more, when Indian team captain Prakash Misra was initially asked to comment on Paes' withdrawal at a media briefing in Johannesburg, he replied: "I know nothing about it - and if it was true, I would have been the first to hear about it."
Despite these protestations, Indian team selector Akhtar Ali and Paes himself were quoted from New Delhi as confirming the withdrawal, with the player declaring "it was a tough call - but I don't want to be a liability on the team and I know the players can win the tie without me."
And in a later statement, Misra confirmed he had received a call from Ali confirming Paes' withdrawal.
He also announced that top junior Yuki Bhambri would come in for Paes in the four-man Indian squad - although it is now likely that number two singles player Rohan Bopanna will participate in the doubles as well and replace Paes as Bhupathi's partner.
And those with a Sherlock Holmes' instinct for detecting and solving mysteries could not help pointing out that while world top-tenners Paes and Bhupathi had in the past formed one of the world's leading doubles combinations, they had since split and were now reportedly more akin to the best of enemies than the best of friends.
The South African squad on Tuesday was in direct contrast to the Indians a picture of serene solidity, with team captain John-Laffnie de Jager confirming that Rik De Voest would play as the number one singles player and Izak van der Merwe would fill the role of number two. Wesley Moodie, now ranked ninth in the world, and Jeff Coetzee will be South Africa's doubles pair.
"We're not worrying over-much as to who is in the Indian squad and who is out," said De Jager, "instead cementing our cameraderie and team spirit, working hard at practice and hopefully taking advantage of the high altitude conditions and fast-medium court surface that should suit us and pave the way for a return to the World Group after 12 years."
India will now place a heavy reliance on their number one singles player, Somdev Devvarman, who has moved up 29 places to 133 in the world ranking as a result of progressing to the second round of the United States Open - and is rated more than 50 places high than South African number one de Voest.
"By a strange coincidence," said De Voest, "Devvarman has recently joined up with my coach in the United States and we actually spent some time practicising together - so there will not be many secrets about each other's play when we meet in the Davis Cup."
BLD Communications
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