Davis Cup: Paes-Bhupathi win doubles tie

Moscow:

After disappointed outings in men's singles, Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi gave India a reason to smile as they won their Davis Cup doubles match in straight sets.

They beat Russia's Igor Kunitsyn and Teimuraz Gabashvili 6-3, 6-2, 6-2. Russia now have a lead of 2-1 over India.

On Friday, India's Somdev Devvarman and Rohan Bopanna lost their singles matches to give Russia the lead.

India entered the World Group after a gap of 11 years and destiny gave them the best chance to progress as Russia's top players -- world number six Nikolay Davydenko and world number 38 Igor Andreev -- suffered injuries and were ruled out.

However, India could not take advantage of their absence and now find themselves in an unenviable position of winning all the remaining three rubbers in the next two days.

Much depended on Somdev but the Indian lost the opening rubber 7-6 (8) 6-7 (4) 3-6 4-6 to Igor Kunitsyn despite dominating it initially.

Big serving Bopanna was no match to world number 13 Mikhail Youzhny, losing the second singles 4-6 2-6 3-6 to round off a disappointing day for the visitors.