The No 6 seed, overcome by an attack of cramps, was in discomfort for a few minutes as soon as the deciding set commenced and he finally indicated to the chair umpire that he had had enough. And after two hours of mediocre tennis, the second round match in the Gold Flake Open at the Nungambakkam Stadium had a premature denouement with Paes winning, 7-6 (7-4), 2-6, 3-1 (retired).

The Indian ace was not happy at the way the match ended. "Jerome is a good friend of mine. He might have been affected by playing both singles and doubles in quick succession last night."

The left-handed Frenchman, ranked 89th, had partnered Arnaud Clement in scoring a three-set win over the German pair of Lars Burgmuller and Rainer Schuttler and this was after he had defeated Wesley Whitehouse of South Africa in the first round of the singles.However, there was no indication of any discomfort in the first two sets. The sudden attack of cramps paved way for Paes' entry into the last eight -- a vast improvement from his first round defeat against Gaston Eltis last year.

Paes had the first service break of the match in the 11th game of the first set. At 30-love, in the following game, he was just two points away from the set. But he faltered and Golmard broke right back to level the scores. In the tie-breaker, Paes raced to a 4-0 lead and even though Golmard fought back to make it four all, Paes had enough in him to take the next three points. But he was a bit lucky to clinch the set point when his return looked wide but the ball was ruled in. Golmard protested in vain.

Breaking Paes in the first game of the second set, Golmard maintained the lead and then with the Indian's game touching a new low in the seventh game, Golmard went ahead 5-2. Hereabout, Paes suddenly seemed tired and his body language said it all. The result was that Golmard wasable to take the set with an ace on his second serve.

Golmard, left the court a few minutes after the first game of the deciding set. He returned but minutes later was in discomfort. A three-minute medical time out and a rubdown on his thigh followed. But Golmard was limping around and Paes broke him for a 3-1 lead. Golmard conceded in the next game.

Results (PQFs)

Patrick Rafter (Australia) bt Ivo Heuberger (Switzerland) 6-2, 6-4; Mikhel Tillstrom (Sweden) bt Oliver Delaitre (France) 7-5, 6-3; Andrei Pavel (Romania) bt Belobrajdic 6-4, 6-0; Todd Woodbridge (Australia) bt C Caratti (Italy) 6-0, 6-7 (5-7), 6-2.