Davis Cup, IND 2-0 lead over New-Zealand
by Kapil Khera
Davis Cup, India vs New Zealand: Yuki Bhambri, Ramkumar give IND 2-0 lead
GROUP I, ASIA/OCEANIA 1ST ROUND
Date: 03 Feb – 05 Feb 2017
Venue: Balewadi Sports Complex,
Pune, India Surface:
Hard, Outdoor
Davis Cup, India vs New Zealand,
Yuki Bhambri, ranked 368 in the world, beat Kiwi No. 1 Finn Tearney, ranked 414, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 to give India a 1-0 lead.
In the second rubber, Ramkumar Ramanathan defeated Jose Statham 6-3, 6-4, 6-3.
Yuki Bhambri and Ramkumar Ramanathan were forthright as they put the Kiwis in their place to give India a 2-0 start in the Asia Oceania Davis Cup tie at the Balewadi Tennis Complex here on Friday.
This has set up the stage for Leander Paes to go for a world record doubles victory on Saturday evening with his trusted partner Vishnu Vardhan.
Having returned in a splendid fashion at the Chennai Open and the Australian Open, the 24-year-old Bhambri was expected to play much better than what his rank of 368 may indicate.
Ramkumar, who excelled with his big serves that touched 213 kmph, whipped the forehand decisively many a time. He was quite crafty with his delectable slice that he floated with uncanny efficiency past the onrushing opponent. Having played the big boys of Spain in the last Davis Cup tie in September, the 22-year-old Ramkumar was well equipped to handle an opponent ranked 417 even though Statham had the experience of taming some of the best players in the region from China and Chinese Taipei.
Captain Anand Amritraj was quite relieved that the pleasant conditions in the evening, in front of an appreciative audience, brought the best out from the Indian boys.
Source : Hindu