Koreans are a tough lot, says Leander Paes

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, APRIL 2. The Koreans are a dangerous lot, fit and fight till the end. We have had some close encounters with them. But, I am looking forward to the tie,'' said Leander Paes, who joined the Indian Davis Cup team for practice here on Sunday.

Making light of the jet lag - following a long flight from Orlando, his base in the U.S. where he had been training for the last few days after an early exit from the Ericsson Open in Miami - Leander had a good workout with the rest of the team. The team had assembled a few days back for the Asia Oceania group `I' tie to be played at the R. K. Khanna Stadium here from April 7 to 9.

``The others have had a bonus of four days, as the team usually assembles for a tie around this time. We will have two sessions for the next two days and then plan our practice session on the centre-court from Wednesday,'' said the non- playing captain Ramesh Krishnan.

Looking back at the away-tie against Korea last year which India had lost 2-3, Leander observed that a lot could change in a year, and he was optimistic of the Indian team pulling it off in familiar environments on grass at home.

``We need to win three of the five matches. I will try to confirm my two singles, which will be tough. Fazaluddin has been playing well and the team is in good spirits. I will be ready to play with anyone whom Ramesh decides as my doubles partner for the tie. I am looking at a win here. We should make the maximum of the home court advantage and be ready to perform,'' said Leander, who emphasised that he still enjoyed playing with the country's flag in the chest, despite entering his eleventh year in Davis Cup competition.

``The practice sessions have been going on well. It is going to be tough competition, and I expect the Koreans to adapt to the conditions. They are basically a two-member team, and our players have a fair idea of them. They seem to be playing very well in Asian Games, Olympics and Davis Cup. We have to go out and play to their best, and not hope that the opponents would play below par. You have to help yourself,'' said Ramesh, as he analysed the Korean challenge, hours before the team's arrival.

Leander dismissed the general impression that he has not had a good season so far, except for winning the Mumbai Challenger, by saying that people were used to seeing him and Mahesh Bhupathi win a lot in the past few years, leading to high expectations.

``I had played with Mahesh for the last four years and very little with others during that period. It is tough to find someone new all of a sudden, and the next couple of months will give a good idea. But, I know that I am on the right track, with the focus on singles,'' said Leander.

The trainer of the team, Sanjay Singh, who has been working out with Mahesh in New York for the last three weeks, said that he was slowly getting back his rhythm and strength of his right hand, and had already been allowed to serve gently by the doctors.

Leander felt that the fringe players had a good chance to push their case in the absence of Mahesh with good performances.

Hoping that the rest of the team would absorb his good points - the work ethic, the determination to run down a ball even in practice, be out with the team and work hard despite a long journey, the pride in doing the job - Leander emphasised that he felt it part of his duty to motivate the other members to play at a different level.

Assuring that playing as a team was the strength of the Indian squad, and the secret behind the team's success over the years in the prestigious tournament despite not having a player in the top 100, Leander stated that the players were tuning themselves hard in intense practice sessions to play at their best.

Viewing the change in the team, of Vishaal Uppal coming in place for Sunil Kumar, Leander said that it was important for the latter, the 16-year-old left-hander to make the maximum of the opportunity to be with the ITF junior team on the European circuit.

``I remember my stint with the ITF team. It is a great opportunity. Sunil needs to take care of his career in the junior circuit at the moment. But if the schedule permits, we should find a balance so that he gains by training with the Davis Cup team,'' said Leander.

The ace had a word of praise for Vishaal Uppal for making it to the squad, and called him the `joker', who was adept at keeping everyone in good humour, and a perfect team-man.

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