Host Russia exploited the vulnerability of Thailand on clay to establish a 2-0 lead in the Davis Cup World Group Play-off tie at the Sport Palace Luzhniki yesterday.

In front of an estimated 1,000 fans, favourites Russia showed no mercy to the guests by dropping not a single set on the first day. It all began with a one-sided upset loss by Paradorn Srichaphan to

the 40th-ranked Igor Andreev 5-7 2-6 4-6 in two hours and six minutes.

Then, to no one’s surprise, in-form world No 9 Marat Safin unleashed his booming ground strokes to subdue Thai No 2 Danai Udomchoke 6-4 6-1 6-2 in just 86 minutes.

Despite support from the Thai Ambassador Sorayouth Prompoj, Lawn Tennis Association of Thailand head Suwat Liptapanlop and a small group of Thai fans, the Thai players failed to pose much of a challenge on the unfamiliar greasy and slow red surface.

The only thing in which Thailand outperformed Russia was the colourful cheers of the Thai fans led by comedian cheerleader Kitja Meebamrung, or “Dodo”, who entertained the crowd in his traditional Thai costume.

Fresh from his second placing in Bucharest last week, Andreev found himself down 2-5 before he turned on the fireworks.

“I was under a little pressure coming to this match because it was the first time I had played in Moscow. At 2-5, I tried to slow down my game and worked

harder for each point,’’ said Andreev, playing only his second Davis Cup.

“Beating Paradorn and winning the first point for my team meant a lot to me. It gave me confidence,’’ added the Russian who will participate in the next week’s Thailand Open.

World No 20 Paradorn still managed to smile despite the

loss to Andreev whom he beat in two sets in Chennai earlier this year.

“Even if his ranking is lower, it didn’t matter because he is a good player and clay is his best surface. I knew from the beginning I was the underdog on this surface and I tried my best,’’ said Paradorn of his first Davis Cup loss this year.

Safin extended his winning streak to 6-0. The world No 9 admitted he had some difficult moments against Danai at the beginning.

“He played well in the first set and had some chances to break me. He had nothing to lose and played well. But he lost confidence after the first set and was uncomfortable on clay,’’ the Russian ace said. Safin will team with Mikhail Youzhny today for the doubles which will be show live on UBC 30 at 2pm.

Danai was unhappy with the loss.

“I should have done better. There was nothing much I could do once he got into his rhythm,’’ he said.

Thai coach Chanachai Srichaphan admitted it would be a Herculean task to win today’s doubles to keep Thailand’s hopes alive in the tie.

“To be frank, our players are not ready to play in this tie. We are not good on this surface and it is impossible that our lower ranked doubles players will beat such high ranked players,’’ Chanachai said.

Sonchat and Sanchai Rati-watana will find it pretty hard against Safin and Youzhny – their first experience of playing top 100 players.

Paradorn appeared to be cruising through the first set, leading 5-2 due to a barrage of unforced errors from Andreev.

He was serving for the set at 5-3 but his concentration collapsed which opened door for the Russian.

More confident and aggressive, the Russian generated two service breaks from the error-prone Paradorn to jump to a 5-1 lead in the second set.

The Thai held his game to reduce the deficit to 2-5 but Andreev showed no signs of nerves in the next game, blasting a fierce forehand winner to win the set 6-2.

The third set proceeded on, but Paradorn was struggling. At 4-4, his game crumbled again.