New Delhi: Tennis aficionados had barely stuffed up the 4,000-seater RK Khanna Tennis Stadium when India gained the Davis Cup World Group I playoff in opposition to Togo, blanking the African nation 4-0 right here on Sunday.
N Sriram Balaji and Rithvik Choudary Bollipalli completed off proceedings rapidly Day 2 handy India the decisive win in opposition to Togo (Davis Cup)
Sasikumar Mukund and Ramkumar Ramanathan gave India a 2-0 lead on Saturday and N Sriram Balaji and debutant Rithvik Choudary Bollipalli barely took an hour to complete off proceedings rapidly underneath the afternoon solar on Day 2, sealing India’s spot in World Group I, with the tie as a consequence of happen in September.
Balaji and Rithvik delivered that decisive win with scientific precision, defeating Hod’abalo Isak Padio and M’lapa Tingou Akomlo 6-2, 6-1 within the doubles rubber, making certain India’s triumph.
Balaji and Rithvik fed off the vitality of the house crowd on the Delhi Garden Tennis Affiliation (DLTA) advanced, seizing the initiative early, breaking their opponents’ serve within the fourth sport of the primary set earlier than closing it out with one other break within the eighth.
The second set was extra one-sided because the Togolese pair struggled to carry serve, conceding breaks within the fourth and sixth video games handy India a dominant victory.
India’s non-playing captain, Rohit Rajpal, was thrilled along with his staff’s efficiency and emphasised how this win bodes properly for the way forward for Indian tennis.
“The purpose here was to also get a few youngsters in the fold and get them on the bench and get them conditioned to Davis Cup pressures so that we start developing some good Davis Cuppers,” stated Rajpal.
“They do well in any case on the Tour but like I said, it is a different ball game when you play in front of the home crowd. There are so many people expecting you to win and that brings different kinds of pressure.”
Traditionally, India has relied closely on its doubles groups in Davis Cup ties, with legends like Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna taking part in essential roles over time.
Rajpal lauded Balaji and Rithvik for showcasing the depth of India’s doubles ranks.
“Doubles was easy but there is a lot of expectations from the doubles players and I am extremely happy with the way Bala and Rithvik came all guns firing. Fantastic match today and I am hoping to build this team for the future which is able to take on the best in the world,” he added.
With the tie already secured, India fielded Karan Singh for the primary reverse singles match in opposition to Padio. The 21-year-old began robust, breaking his opponent’s serve within the second sport earlier than comfortably closing out the primary set.
Karan appeared set for a routine victory as he raced to a 4-0 lead within the second set with a double break. Nonetheless, he momentarily misplaced momentum dropping serve earlier than regaining management to wrap it up 6-2, 6-3.
With the tie already determined in India’s favour, the fifth and ultimate match was not performed.