India took a 2-1 lead over New Zealand in the Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Group 1 first round tennis tie after their ace doubles combination of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi beat Mark Neilsen and Matt Prentice 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4), in Invercargill, New Zealand, on Saturday.
The former world No. 1 pair proved too good for the Kiwi duo, which teamed up for the first time.
At 23, Prentice, who is studying at the University of Oklahoma in the United States, made his debut in the Davis Cup and gave a good account of himself but was helpless against the aggressive play by the Indians.
There was just one break of serve in the first set. Prentice, who had won his first game on serve to love, was broken in the seventh as the Indians went up 4-3.
The newcomer was broken again in the first game of the second set as the Indians easily held serve thereafter to take the set.
In the third set, Prentice served two aces to take the score to 6-5 before Paes held serve to force the tie-break.
Nielsen then had a chance to take the match to the fourth set when he served at 4-3 in the tie-breaker but lost both points to allow the Indians snatch a 5-4 advantage.
The 13th ranked Paes then wrapped up the set, scoring two fine points.
In the opening day's singles matches, on Friday, Simon Rea beat Harsh Mankad while Paes got the better of Nielsen.
The reverse singles will be played Sunday. The winner of the match plays either Japan or Indonesia in the second round in April.
