The sensational five-set win by Leander Paes and Rohan Bopanna in the crucial doubles tie at the Davis Cup World Group playoff tie against Serbia here Saturday not only opened up the tie, but also a new horizon for the duo.

 

 Savouring the victory after being down by two sets and 2-3 in the third, 41-year old Paes and Bopanna, playing together for only the third time in Davis Cup in seven years, felt that the win over Serbian combination Nenad Zimonjic and Ilija Bozoljac not only put India back in the match, but also cemented a partnership that could go all the way to the 2016 Rio Olympics.

 

 Paes, who described the victory as one of his better comebacks in Davis Cup, and Bopanna won a tough two-hour, 58-minute doubles tie 1-6, 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-3, 8-6, with Zimonjic suffering neck spasms when he and Bozoljac were leading 3-2 in the third leading to a three-minute medical break.

 

 "I wasn't seeing the ball well in the first two sets and was not serving as well. But the three-minute break in the third set when we were down a break helped us to get our thoughts together.

 

 "I also changed my racquet and picked up the one that I had strung at the US Open. So, it was an old racquet, but it worked," said a relieved Bopanna.

 

 Paes, a veteran of many a battle, was happy that his partnership with Bopanna jelled after a shaky start and opined that their styles of play were similar.

 

 "We haven't played together a lot, but our styles of play match. It was a big result for us tonight and as we play more sets and matches, I am sure, we will get comfortable with each other.

 

 "We have already signed up a partnership for 2015 and may be the Rio Olympics in 2016," said Paes, who won the singles bronze medal at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.

 

 Bopanna said: "It will be great to play with Leander in 2015 and at the end of the year, we will take a call on 2016 which is still a long way off."

 

 Looking ahead to the two reverse singles Sunday when Somdev Devvarman takes on Dusan Lajovic and then Yuki Bhambri faces Filip Krajinovic, Indian team's non-playing captain Anand Amritraj said both his players needed to play their very best to pull off a win.

 

 "Firstly, today's victory had nothing to do with Zimonjic's injury. He was still serving big and moving well, but I am happy that both Leander and Bopanna played solid tennis to win.

 

 "As for tomorrow (Sunday), Somdev will have to play the best tennis of his life, but I am sure, as always, he will give it his 150 per cent. Yuki too needs to play well," said Amritraj.