Davis Cup: Somdev Devvarman ties score at 2-2 with sensational victory
Somdev Devvarman kept India alive in the Davis Cup tie against Serbia as he beat Dusan Lajovic in a five set thriller. India trailed Serbia 0-2 in the tie and got one victory on board after Leander Paes and Rohan Bopanna won their doubles encounter on Saturday. Devvarman had the full-backing of the home support, which helped him tremendously to win the match in dramatic fashion.
Lajovic was too good for Somdev in the first set
Both players got off to a tentative start in their first service games and managed to hold serve by saving couple of break points. However it was the Indian who served poorly and was broken twice as the Serb found himself serving for the set at 5-1. He managed to do just that aided with three forehand winners.
Somdev didn't put much of a fight in the first set which lasted just 30 minutes.
Fewer errors and more winners helped Somdev clinch the second set
The second set started on a similar note as the Serb put immense pressure on the Indian's serve in the first and third and fifth games, which Somdev just about managed to hold. Dusan on the other hand did not lose a point on his serve in his first two service games.
The Indian No. 1 had two chances to go 4-2 up, but squandered both of them in the sixth game. It was in the tenth game that Somdev broke Dusan's serve for the first time in the match to win the set 6-4.
Somdev gave away the advantage
Somdev got an early break in the third set and was up 4-2 before the Serb got back into it with fine serving and few unforced errors by the Indian. Somdev couldn't hold his serve during the latter stages of the set as Dusan broke twice to take a two sets to one advantage.
The fourth set saw both not facing too much trouble in the first two games in their serves. However, Somdev and Dusan struggled on their serve as there were consecutive breaks of serve until the eighth game before Somdev served it out 6-3.
Momentum swing in the decider
The Indian struck twice in the third and seventh games as the unforced errors kept on increasing from the Serb's racket. Somdev came to the net and missed an easy volley, but capitalised on a short return from Dusan to be just two points away from winning the match. A brilliant first serve and an off forehand sealed the match in India's favour.
The series is now tied at 2-2 with one match to go.
Final Scoreline: Somdev Devvarman beat Dusan Lajovic 1-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
The last match is between Yuki Bhambri and Filip Krajinovic.