Hosts Norway entered the World Group Qualifiers after beating India 3–0 within the Davis Cup World Group 1 match at Lillehammer. As a consequence, India will now must play within the World Group 1 playoffs to stay within the competitors.
After dropping each their matches on Friday, the one doubles rubber of the tie was India’s wanted win on Saturday. With Rohan Bopanna injured, India fielded a partnership of Yuki Bhambri and Saketh Myneni. Both did nicely on the Challenger stage, profitable 5 titles within the second tier of males’s tennis this yr. Despite the anticipation, they misplaced in opposition to a partnership of world quantity two Kasper Rudd and Viktor Durasovic.
The panic was evident from the beginning of the match, with each the groups going through early breaks within the first set. Norway broke Myneni and took a 4-2 lead on the set. The Indian pair deliberate a comeback within the second, profitable the primary set within the sixth sport to get the one break within the set. But Rudd and Durasovic did their higher within the third, breaking Bhambri’s serve for the primary time within the match to search out the one breakthrough of the third, profitable 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.
US Open finalist Ruud Steamrolls Prajnesh
Rood began the spherical with Prajnesh Gunneswaran on Friday. After a four-set loss within the US Open closing final week, Rudd confirmed no indicators of fatigue within the first set, storming off with a number of breaks from Prajnesh’s serve. In the second, their stage dropped, however Prajnesh couldn’t make the most of it and misplaced the tie 1-6, 4-6. India had excessive hopes from the second spherical, when India No 1 and World No 276 took on 325th-ranked Durasovic.
But Ramanathan couldn’t. The match performed out a bit just like the earlier one, with Durasovic taking a 6–1 lead within the first set and going as laborious as he may to win the fourth sport to advance Ramanathan’s serve. Durasovic made the same returning efficiency within the third sport of the second, creating three break level alternatives, earlier than succeeding to win the tie with the identical scoreline because the earlier match. Later on Saturday, after Sumit Nagal defeated Lukas Helm Lillingen 6–2, 6–1 in a lifeless rubber match, each groups agreed to play to offer the gamers some match time.
Davis Cup: Norway 1, India 0
World No. 2 participant Casper Roode strengthens his class abandoning Prajnesh Gunneswaran
Prajnesh fought laborious within the second set, however Roode was excellent ultimately
[Rubber 1] Casper Rudd(🇳🇴,2) d. Prajnesh Gunneswaran(🇮🇳,335) 6-1 6-4 pic.twitter.com/fFk2kMTZGC
— Indian Tennis Daily (ITD) (@IndTennisDaily) September 16, 2022
After beating Denmark brilliantly in Delhi again in March, the consequence could be disappointing for India. Even although the Norwegian contingent was led by World No 2, India had possibilities in different matches, and even then, misplaced within the washout. India will now must play within the World Group 1 playoffs to make it to the World Group Qualifiers. The winners of the qualifiers will play the ultimate in Spain in November.
Score:
first day
Casper Rudd def. Prajnesh Gunneswaran 6-1, 6-4
Viktor Durasovic def. Ramkumar Ramanathan 6-1, 6-4
second day
Kasper Rudd / Victor Durasovic def. Yuki Bhambri/Saket Myneni 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
Sumit Nagal def. Lukas Helm Lillingen 6-2, 6-1 (lifeless rubber)
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
