A fired up Yuki Bhambri recorded his first-ever victory in a live fifth rubber after Somdev Devvarman levelled the scores as India advanced to World Group play-offs following a 3-2 win over New Zealand in the Asia/Oceania Group I second round Davis Cup tie here on Sunday.
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The New Zealand Davis Cup tennis side have fallen just short of a historic win against India in Christchurch today.
India’s Somdev Devvarman celebrates a point during his 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 win over Kiwi opponent Marcus Daniell at Wilding Park. If required, Michael Venus will then carry New Zealand’s hopes in a decider against Yuki Bhambri.
Daniell, a doubles specialist who won Saturday with partner Artem Sitak, was a late change for the singles after Kiwi number one Rubin Statham pulled out of the reverse singles with influenza.
Statham has been plagued by health issues recently and struggled to play his natural running game on day one when he was beaten on Friday in straight sets by Bhambri.
Indian No. 2 Yuki Bhambri was their hero, winning both his singles matches in emphatic fashion.
Earlier, Devvarman delivered when it mattered the most, taming Daniell in two hours and 18 minutes to keep India afloat in the tie. He had lost the deciding fifth rubber against Serbia’s Filip Krajinovic in September in Bangalore past year.
Venus’ serve let him down badly, and it was a double fault that opened the door for Bhambri to grab a 5-2 lead in a mirror image of the first set.
Holding his opening service game for the first time was a better start, but the fight seemed to fade as the match went on and he was broken to go behind 3-4.
Venus found himself broken again in the first set as Bhambri put his foot down and extended his lead, rarely looking troubled.
The New Zealander was down by two break chances at the start of the third set but saved both.
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“We had two break points and that s not saying much”.
