India enter Davis Cup World Group play-offs

Busan (South Korea), April 6 (IANS): Top tennis player Somdev Devvarman pulled off a stunning win in the first reverse singles to enable India enter the Davis Cup World Group play-offs with a 3-1 historic win over South Korea in their Group I Asia/Oceania second round tie here Sunday.

India entered the third day of the match with a 2-1 lead and Devvarman sealed the tie for the visitors with a hard fought 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 6-1 win over Yong-Kyu Lim.

Somdev, who also had a hard fought win over Hyeon Chung in the opening round, displayed great fighting spirit in the reverse singles as well.

Lim, Korea’s top singles player, cracked under pressure despite doing well in the first two sets. Though Somdev won the first set, Lim came back strongly by winning the second set. However, Somdev was in his elements and easily won the last two sets.

The second reverse singles match between Chung and India’s Sanam Singh was cancelled since the tie was already decided.

“Unreal effort by @SomdevD to give us the win against Korea! fightttttt @rohanbopanna, #teamindiaaaaaa..” tweeted Singh.

“Beast Somdev :),” tweeted doubles specialist Rohan Bopanna, who doubled up with Saketh Myneni to win the doubles match Saturday that gave India the advantage.

For India the win was sweet revenge for the 1-4 thrashing they had suffered against Korea in New Delhi last year when top players, led by Somdev, boycotted the tie. India now have 4-6 head-to-head record against Korea.

Besides India, Uzbekistan also advanced to the World Group Play-offs from Asia/Oceania Group 1.