Sydney: considering how little – especially singles – he has played in the last four months, it really was not surprising. But then fans always expect miracles, just as they did four years ago when Leander Paes delivered.

This time around, there was no rabbit in the hat, as Paes, struggling to find his rhythm, crashed out in the opening round to Swede Mikael Tillstrom in the Tennis competition.

As Paes tried to play from memory, as it were, Tillstrom, himself struggling to find his bearings on the circuit this season, won 6-2, 6-4 in a match that lasted just under an hour.

The 27-year-old Paes was found wanting in just about every department. His first serves did not work – he had a pathetic 26 per cent landing right in the first set and it improved to just 59 per cent in the second set – and he double faulted no less than six times.

There were far too many unforced errors and coming on top of a serve, which was rather weak, Tillstrom was just not tested. One of the major differences between the two was that Tillstrom capitalised on his strong first serve.

Even though he was not really firing away, the fact that he managed to win points on most of his first serves, which went in his favour. In fact Paes was nowhere in the picture.

It was not as if Paes missed his chances. The fact was he simply got none. Tillstrom saw through the rustiness of his rival and attacked him. At crucialpoints the Swede tightened his game and allowed no leeway.

India Abroad News Service