Davis Cup: India take unassailable 3-0 lead against Kiwis

Chandigarh – Vishnu Vardhan helped India take an unassailable 3-0 lead in their Davis Cup tie against New Zealand here on Saturday by winning the second singles encounter and a tense doubles match alongside Divij Sharan.

After Yuki Bhambri‘s victory over Daniel King-Turner in the first rubber gave India a 1-0 lead, the 25-year-old Vardhan continued the second rubber from Friday, winning 6-2, 6-7(2), 6-4, 6-2, against Jose Statham at the Chandigarh Lawn Tennis Association (CLTA) Stadium.

He then turned up with Delhi boy Sharan to beat Michael Venus and Daniel King-Turner 7-6 (3), 4-6, 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-3 to ensure India’s win in the Asia/Oceania Group I first round play-off.

The day started with Vardhan and Statham resuming their match at 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-4, after the tie was halted on Friday due to bad light when the Indian was leading.

Vardhan quickly wrapped up proceedings to give India a 2-0 lead, after which he joined Davis Cup debutant Divij to face the New Zealand side.

Strong serving from both pairs forced the first set into a tie-break, but a couple of mini-breaks and some good net play helped the hosts claim the set.

In the second set, India had a break point in the second game which New Zealand saved though a forehand winner from the 24-year-old Venus, which helped them equalise the scoreline at 1-1.

Immediately after the new balls were brought in the fourth game of the match, King-Turner committed two double faults, but did well to hold and keep the set on serve.

India earned two more break points on the next New Zealand service game, and while Sharan gave away the first with a backhand error, the youngster redeemed himself with a brilliant cross-court volley next time around that helped India break for the first time in the match and go 4-2 up.

A poor line judgement call by Sharan, ranked 94 in doubles, gave the visitors a break point which they converted when Venus hit an irretrievable smash.

The New Zealand duo, now leading 5-4, broke in the last game to level the match at a set apiece.

India broke in the fourth game of the third set to go 3-1 up, with four flawless serves by Vardhan helping India consolidate that lead. India did not look back from there and sealed the set 6-3.

The penultimate set saw some long rallies with neither team taking too many chances. The Kiwis though managed to break in the fourth game for a 3-1 lead.

Trailing 2-4, India played a remarkable net game, with Sharan’s quick reflexes allowing India to break back.

Eventually, the set went into the tie-breaker which the Kiwis claimed to force the match into a decider.

In the final set, India, up 3-2, crucially broke the Daniel-Turner serve to go ahead.

A brilliant service game by Vardhan saw them go ahead by 5-2, with another break of serve helping the Vardhan-Sharan combination seal the match and the play-off to push India into the second round play-off, where they will take on Chinese Taipei to avoid relegation in Group II.

In the last two reverse singles ties on Sunday, Yuki Bhambri and Sanam Singh will be taking on Statham and King-Turner respectively.