Kolkata: India's star campaigner Leander Paes will play the opening singles against New Zealand's Marc Nielsen in the Asia-Oceania group-I second round Davis Cup tie at the South Club here on Friday. Rohan Bopanna will play the second singles later on the opening day against Alistair Hunt, as per the draw decided on Thursday.

On Saturday, Paes will team up with Mahesh Bhupathi for the doubles against Nielsen and Hunt.

Bopanna will play Nielsen in the first reverse singles on Sunday, before Paes takes on Hunt in the final match of the rubber.

New Zealand non-playing captain Glenn Wilson, however, said he may decide to opt for a different doubles combination after seeing the results of the singles matches on the opening day.

Wilson's Indian counterpart Ramesh Krishnan said he was "more than happy" with the draw as it enables Paes to get some rest in between his matches. "He will be playing the first, third and fifth matches. This will give him some rest which will be of advantage to us," he added.

PTI