Big-serving Rohan Bopanna and Leander Paes, who still has terrific presence at the net, kept India alive in the Davis Cup Qualifiers against Croatiawith a three-set victory over Mate Pavic and Franko Skugor, here on Saturday. Coming into the do-or-die match, the Indians, with a combined age of 86, won 6-3 6-7 (9) 7-5 after two hours and 21 minutes against Pavic and Skuber, ranked 15 and 32 respectively. The Indians missed two match points in the second set tie-breaker but eventually held their nerves to win the decisive third set in which they fell behind after Bopanna lost his serve.

India now trail 1-2 and need to win the remaining reverse singles to qualify for the Davis Cup Finals. With this win, the 46-year-old Paes has extended his Davis Cup record of most doubles victory to 45 and has possibly played his last tie as he has announced that 2020 is his final season. Bopanna served big, like he always does, and also made some sharp service return winners.