Yuki Bhambri then closed out the tie, taking just one hour 49 minutes to complete a 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 win over New Zealand hope Michael Venus who had earlier beaten Devvarman.
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Daniell replaced his teammate Rubin Statham who has been suffering from influenza.
[ July 19, 2015 13:22:00 ].
The New Zealand Davis Cup team have lost their tie with India, 3-2, after being defeated in both of Sunday’s reverse singles matches in Christchurch. He had lost the deciding fifth rubber against Serbia’s Filip Krajinovic in September in Bangalore a year ago.
It was in the third set that Venus threatened a bit when he had Bhambri down a break point in the sixth game but the Indian was up to the task and thwarted his rival’s attempts.
“We have always had tough matches and it will be no different tomorrow but first Somdev has to win his match”, he said adding that the “other team was solid today”.
Devvarman went about his business calmly and made a perfect start to his match when he broke Daniell in the very first game of the opening set.
Venus found himself broken again in the first set as Bhambri put his foot down and extended his lead, rarely looking troubled.
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.
The second set saw the Indian once again take the upper hand as he won 72% of his first service points and also all of his second serves inside.
Somdev Devvarman of India returns the ball during his tennis singles match against New Zealand’s Michael Venus during the Davis Cup world group playoffs at Wilding Park in Christchurch.
“We had two break points and that s not saying much”.
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Daniell kept fighting hard, saving two break points in the third game of the second set, which went on serve till the eighth game.
