India beat Kazakhstan 3-2 in Davis Cup tie, stays in Group 1

New Delhi, Apr 8 (UNI) Marshalling his vast experience, veteran Leander Paes beat Dmitry Makeyev 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in the deciding reverse singles to guide India to a 3-2 win against Kazakhstan in the Asia-Oceania Davis Cup Group 1 relegation play-off tie at Almaty today.

Karan Rastogi was to play Makeyev in the match but after Rohan Bopanna went down fighting to top Kazakh player Alexei Kedryuk in the first reverse singles earlier in the day and surrendering the 2-1 advantage in the process, Paes, who is also captain of the team, took the responbility himself to see India through.

Bopanna, who won his singles against Makeyev on Friday before pairing up with Paes in doubles win against Makeyev and Kedryuk duo yesterday, could have seen India through but lost to Kedryuk in a thriller 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-4 to level the score 2-2, according to information received here today.

India will now stay in Group 1 for next season while Kazakhstan have to play the final round of play-off in September.

The two teams are playing against each other for the first time in the history of the men's team tennis competition.

India had to feature in the play-off after their 1-4 loss to Uzbekistan in away tie in February.

UNI