TAKE THAT: India’s Somdev Devvarman plays a shot against Indonesia’s Wishnu Adi Nugroho during the Asia/Oceania Zone Group I Davis Cup play-in Bangalore yesterday.
Reuters/Astana
Holders Czech Republic overcame the absence of their top two players, Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek, to take a 2-0 lead against Kazakhstan in their Davis Cup quarter-final yesterday.
Jan Hajek had little trouble disposing 156th-ranked Mikhail Kukushkin 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 in the opening singles before Lukas Rosol prevailed over world number 205 Andrey Golubev 4-6, 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 to put the defending champions in command after the first day.
“It’s not that easy to play the first match so I had to keep my focus and followed my plan for most of the match and it paid off in the end,” 94th-ranked Hajek said after the match.
World number six Berdych was forced to pull out of the three-day indoor tie, played on clay at the National Tennis Centre in Astana, after injuring his shoulder at last week’s Sony Open in Maimi, while 45th-ranked Stepanek was rested for the singles matches.
Kazakhstan, with all four of their players coming from Russia, shocked the Czechs 3-2 in their only previous Davis Cup tie in Ostrava in 2011 when they made their debut in the World Group as an independent nation but must produce a miracle to stage another upset this time round.
India take 2-0 lead
Bangalore: Favourites India won both the opening singles against Indonesia to take a 2-0 lead in the Davis Cup Asia/Oceania group one tie yesterday.
India’s top player Somdev Devvarman proved too strong for 19-year-old Wisnu Adi Nugroho, winning 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 in an hour and 30 minutes in the first match. Yuki Bhambri, ranked 279 in the world, then defeated number 250 Christopher Rungkat 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 to hand the hosts a flying start in a tie where the winner will avoid relegation to group two.
“It is just the start we wanted,” said Indian coach Zeeshan Ali. “It is always a big advantage to win both matches on the first day. Hopefully we can wrap it up tomorrow.”
The doubles tie today will feature Indian veteran Leander Paes partnering Sanam Singh against Elbert Sie and David Susanto.
India were back to full strength after 11 top players, including Devvarman and Bhambri, skipped the tie against South Korea in February following a pay dispute with the country’s tennis federation. The depleted Indians lost to the Koreans 4-1, but are now expected to extend their 5-0 unbeaten Davis Cup record against Indonesia.
Heartbreak for Pakistan
Yangon: Pakistan’s hopes of winning through to Asia/Oceania Group I are over for another year after their Group II second-round tie was awarded to New Zealand due to an unplayable court in Myanmar yesterday.
Ageel Khan defeated Artem Sitak to win the opening rubber for Pakistan on the grass courts of the Pun Hlaing Golf & Country Club in Yangon, prevailing 7-5, 3-6, 6-2, 7-5 against the world No. 366. But with Aisam Qureshi leading 6-2, 3-6, 3-0 against Daniel King-Turner in the second rubber, the tie was abandoned, handing New Zealand a 4-1 victory and the chance to win a place in Group I in the third round in September.
New Zealand will meet either Philippines or Thailand, with the two nations locked at 1-1 after the opening day of their tie.
Ruben Gonzales put the hosts one up at the Plantation Bay Resort & Spa in Lapu City, bypassing Wishaya Trongcharoenchaiku when the 17-year-old Thai was forced to retire with cramp while trailing 6-7(6), 6-4, 3-0.
Below: Pakistan’s Aqeel Khan hits a return to Artem Sitak of New Zealand during their Davis Cup Group II second round clash in Yangon yesterday. (AFP)