India in Davis Cup - down memory lane

Ramanathan Krishnan

Bangalore, Sep 8 (IANS) India have had their share of romance with the Davis Cup, having been runners-up thrice -- in 1966, 1974 and 1987. Their best-ever performance was probably in 1966 when they beat Brazil in Kolkata. Ramanathan Krishnan defeated southpaw and World No.12 Thomaz Koch in five sets to clinch the Inter-Zonal final 3-2, and put India in the now-defunct Challenge Round where they lost to Australia.

India had their best-ever chance to win the Cup in 1974 when they reached the final, but defaulted the tie to South Africa, protesting the Apartheid regime.

In the previous round, India had overcome Australia 3-2 and the USSR 3-1 (last reverse singles not played) to qualify for the final. India enjoyed a good run in 1987 when they beat Australia 3-2 in Sydney only to lose to Sweden 0-5 in the final that was played on indoor clay court in chilly Gothenburg during peak winter. The Indian players, unaccustomed to extreme cold, could barely hold the racquet, much less play!

India's best results:

1966 - India beat Brazil 3-2 in the Inter-Zonal Final to qualify for the Challenge Round where India lost to Australia 1-4.

Inter-Zonal Final (Kolkata, Grass, Dec 4-6) - India beat Brazil 3-2 in Kolkata, December 4-6, 1966 (Jaideep Mukherjea lost to Thomaz Koch 2-6, 2-6, 3-6; Ramanathan Krishnan bt Jose-Edison Mandarino 5-7, 6-2, 6-2, 6-3; Krishnan / Mukherjea bt Koch / Mandarino 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3; Mukherjea lost to Mandarino 7-9, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 5-7; Krishnan bt Koch 3-6, 6-4, 10-12, 7-5, 6-2).

Challenge round (Melbourne, Grass) - Australia beat India 4-1 (Fred Stolle bt Ramanathan Krishnan 6-3, 6-2, 6-4; Roy Emerson bt Jaideep Mukherjea 7-5, 6-4, 6-2; John Newcombe/Tony Roche lost to Krishnan/Mukherjea 4-6, 7-5, 6-4, 6-4; Emerson bt Krishnan 6-0, 6-2, 10-8; Stolle bt Mukherjea 7-5, 6-8, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3).

1974 - India defeated Australia 3-2 and USSR 3-1 en route to the World Group final which they conceded to South Africa, protesting the Apartheid. Eastern Zone Final (Kolkata, Grass, May 10-12) - India beat Australia 3-2 (Jasjit Singh bt Bob Giltinan 11-9, 9-11, 12-10, 8-6; Vijay Amritraj lost to John Alexander 12-14, 15-17, 8-6, 2-6; Anand Amritraj / Vijay Amritraj bt Alxander / Colin Dibley 17-15, 6-8, 6-3, 16-18, 6-4; Singh lost to Alexander 6-8, 4-6, 3-6; Vijay Amritraj bt Giltinan 6-1, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4).

Inter-Zonal semi-final (Pune, Grass, Sept 20-22) - India beat USSR 3-1 (Vijay Amritraj bt Teimuraz Kakulia 6-4, 11-9, 6-3; Anand Amritraj lost to Alex Metreveli 4-6, 7-9, 3-6; Amritraj/Amritraj bt Metreveli / Vladimir Korotkov 13-15, 7-5, 19-17, 6-3; Anand Amritraj bt Kakulia 6-2, 8-10, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3; Vijay Amritraj vs Metreveli - Not played).

1987 - India beat Australia 3-2 in Sydney to reach the World Group final where they lost to Sweden 0-5.

World Group Semi-final (Sydney, Grass, Oct 2-4): India beat Australia 3-2 (Ramesh Krishnan bt John Fitzgerald 6-1, 6-2, 3-6, 8-6; Vijay Amritraj bt Wally Masur 1-6, 6-3, 12-10, 6-4; Anand Amritraj / Srinivasan Vasudevan lost to Pat Cash / Peter Doohan 3-6, 4-6, 4-6; Vijay Amritraj lost to Fitzgerald 5-7, 3-6, 3-6; Krishnan bt Masur 8-6, 6-4, 6-4).

World Group Final (Gothenburg, Clay / Indoor, Dec 18-20) - Sweden beat India 5-0 (Mats Wilander bt Ramesh Krishnan 6-4, 6-1, 6-3; Anders Jarryd bt Vijay Amritraj 6-3, 6-3, 6-1; Joachim Nystrom / Wilander bt Anand Amritraj / Vijay Amritraj 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2; Jarryd bt Krishnan 6-4, 6-3; Wilander bt Vijay Amritraj 6-2, 6-0).

1993 - India reached the World Group semi-final where they lost to Australia 0-5. In the previous round, India beat hosts France 3-2.

World Group semi-final (Chandigarh, Grass, Sept 24-26) - Australia beat India 5-0 (Jason Stoltenberg bt Leander Paes 6-3, 7-6 (5), 6-2; Wally Masur bt Ramesh Krishnan 6-2, 6-0, 6-4; Todd Woodbridge / Mark Woodforde bt Krishnan / Paes 6-2, 7-6 (3), 6-1; Masur bt Paes 6-4, 6-2; Stoltenberg bt Zeeshan Ali 6-3, 6-3).

World Group quarter-final (Frejus, Clay / outdoor, July 16-19) - India beat France 3-2 (Ramesh Krishnan lost to Arnaud Boetsch 3-6, 3-6, 1-6; Leander Paes bt Henri Leconte 6-1, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3; Krishnan / Paes lost to Boetsch / Leconte 6-7 (5), 3-6, 4-6; Paes bt Boetsch 6-4, 7-5, 6-4; Krishnan bt Rodolphe Gilbert 2-6, 6-4, 4-6, 7-5, 6-4).