India kept their slim hopes of making the second round of the Davis Cup alive with a rout of Russia in the doubles on Saturday. The legendary Indian doubles pair of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi produced a master class in Moscow to down Teimuraz Gabashvili and Igor Kunitsyn 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 in a little over an hour and a half to reduce the tie deficit to 2-1.

The Indians were always favourites to pick up the point for the doubles, and the former Wimbledon champions looked at complete ease right through the contest today. Igor Kunitsyn, who picked up a huge win yesterday against Indian no.1 Somdev Devvarman, was broken in his very first service game as India took a 3-1 lead. Half an hour into the contest Mahesh Bhupathi was serving for the opening set, and the veteran took his third set point to put his side ahead.

They did it just minutes before a massive storm crunched Melbourne Park with large clumps of hail, but Australia has won its way through to the next round of the Asia Oceania Zone Group One Davis Cup by BNP Paribas. Paul Hanley finished off proceedings with a sweetly struck ace to secure victory in the doubles rubber for the home side 7-6(4) 7-6(2) 6-2 over Chinese Taipei.

Even with the reverse singles tomorrow, Australia cannot be beaten and will most likely play Japan in the next round in Australia in May.

Hanley and big-serving left-hander Carsten Ball were paired up for the first time today and faced some sustained pressure from Tsung-Hua Yang and Chu-Huan Yi. The Chinese Taipei pair racing to a 2-0 lead after breaking Ball's first service game.

India's dream return to the World Group of the Davis Cup after a gap of 12 years turned into a nightmare as they were blanked 2-0 by Russia on the opening day of their first round clash in Moscow. Indian no.1 Somdev Devvarman threw away a set and 5-2 lead against Russia's fourth choice for the singles, Igor Kunitsyn, eventually going down in four sets 7-6(6), 6-7(4), 3-6, 4-6 before Rohan Bopanna was humbled in straight sets by Mikhail Youzhny, 4-6, 2-6, 3-6.

The day appeared to start well for India with Igor Andreev, a substitute for the injured Nikolay Davydenko, having to withdraw from the contest due to a knee injury. Another Igor, Kunitsyn, ranked 107 in the world was called in at the last minute to play just the second singles match of his Davis Cup career.

Australia has grabbed a commanding 2-0 lead over Chinese Taipei after day one of their Asia Oceania Zone Group One Davis Cup by BNP Paribas at Melbourne Park. Bernard Tomic and Peter Luczak both overwhelmed their respective opponents leaving the Australian camp going into tomorrow's doubles intent on wrapping up the tie.

After rain delayed the start of play, the debutant Tomic was quickly into gear and careered away to a comprehensive 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 win over the Chinese Taipei's number one player Tsung-Hua Yang.

"I've had a lot of tough matches against him in juniors and today I was lucky I played really well," the teenage Australian reflected post-match. "There's nothing better than to play for your country especially for it it's always been my dream and to do it with the team like that behind you and stuff it's unbelieveable for me."