Indian tennis player Vijayant Malik plays a shot against South Korean opponent Suk-Young Jeong during the second singles match of the Davis Cup at the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association (DLTA) courts in New Delhi yesterday. (AFP)

Agencies/New Delhi

It was a disappointing start to India’s Davis Cup campaign here yesterday as rookie Vijayant Malik conceded the second singles due to severe cramps despite putting up a valiant fight following a humiliating loss by debutant Ranjeet Virali-Murugesan in the first singles, giving South Korea a 2-0 lead on the first day of their Group I Asia/Oceania first round tie.

Ranjeet, who is India’s No.1 player for the tie, was thrashed 1-6, 0-6, 1-6 by the unranked Min-Hyeok Cho at the R K Khanna Tennis Stadium.

After a humiliating loss in the first singles, Vijayant, ranked 537, gave the home crowd something to cheer with his spirited performance against Suk-Young Jeong, who is ranked 321.

But in the third set, with the score at 4-6, 5-7, 0-3, he felt excruciating pain in his left leg and collapsed on the court and conceded the match.

It was a sad end to Vijayant’s heroics that raised some hopes for the hosts after an embarrassing loss in the first singles.

Vijayant attacked from the outset and was on top of his game right. He led the first set 2-1 but some unforced errors helped the Jeong claw back into the game to make it 4-2. Vijayant, however, came back strongly in the next two games and pocketed the fourth game with a brilliant ace (4-4).

But the Korean made the best use of his experience and went for the kill whenever he found the opportunity while Vijayant failed to finish off points.

In the second set, Vijayant continued in the same breadth and took a 1-0 lead. It was a see-saw battle in the second game as the Indian came back from 0-40 to make it 40-40 but failed to seal it.

Egged on by a sizeable crowd, Vijayant soon made it 2-1 and but Jeong was soon back on level 2-2 despite the Indian saving four game points.

The match was evenly balanced at 5-5, but Jeong was indomitable in the last two games and won the set 7-5.

Vijayant started feeling a niggle in his left leg in the second set and opted for medical help during the break. By the third set, trailing 0-2, Vijayant collapsed on the field with severe cramps. He first conceded the game and after some treatment he gave it up finally.

Earlier in the day, the unranked Cho dominated from the baseline and toyed with Ranjeet, who is ranked 511.

It was an erratic performance by the inexperienced Ranjeet, who was included in the side after several top players revolted against the All India Tennis Association (AITA) and made themselves unavailable for national duty.

Ranjeet gifted away easy points. Though he hit a few aces and managed to hold on to rallies twice, he committed too many unforced errors.

Cho, who is basically a doubles player, made the best use of his experience in thrashing the 27-year-old India.

India are fielding an inexperienced team in the Davis Cup following a rebellion by senior players, led by Somdev Devvarman. Leander Paes is the only old face in the team.

Today, Paes will be teaming up with another rookie Purav Raja for the doubles.

 

Australia 2-0 lead puts squeeze on Taiwan

Australia took a 2-0 lead with wins in both yesterday’s singles matches against Taiwan at the Asia-Oceania group one Davis Cup tie in the southern Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung.

Following the day’s loss, Taiwan must win in today’s doubles to avoid a crushing defeat.

Matthew Ebden picked up his team’s second point of the day with a 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 win over Chen Ti, rewarding Australian captain Pat Rafter’s decision to pick him for the singles over team-mate Marinko Matosevic.

Lleyton Hewitt had earlier delivered an efficient 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 win over Yang Tsung-hua, which marked the Australian’s 39th singles win in Davis Cup play.

Hewitt needed all of his experience to overcome Yang, supported by an enthusiastic home crowd, and give Rafter and the small but noisy contingent of travelling fans reason to cheer.

It was Yang who appeared to struggle more in the hot and humid conditions, and he needed treatment after the second set for what appeared to be a back problem.

Hewitt, who turns 32 later this month, showed few signs of the foot problems which dogged him for much of the 2012 season.

Rafter has hinted that he may also change the Australian line-up for Sunday’s reverse singles if needed.

Hewitt has been chosen to play in today’s doubles alongside Chris Guccione against Taiwan’s Lee Hsin-han and Peng Hsien-yin.