Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharan saved three match factors in an edge-of-the-seat thriller to prevail in opposition to a preventing Danish pair of Frederik Nielsen and Mikael Torpegaard as India stored its place within the Davis Cup World Group I by taking an unassailable 3- 0 lead within the Play-off tie, on Saturday.
Sharan, taking part in his first Davis Cup tie since February 2019, and Bopanna got here from behind to win 6-7 (4) 6-4 7-6 (4) in a single hour and 58 minutes. The tense win ensured that India will keep in World Group I for the 2022 season whereas Denmark will now once more return to World Group II.
Serving to remain within the match within the twelfth recreation of the decider, Sharan confronted three match factors however the Indian crew held nerves to save lots of all, two of them on second serves, to power a closing tie-breaker, through which they raced to a 4-1 lead and sealed the win when Torpegaard couldn’t make a return on Bopanna’s serve.
This is India’s first win since they beat Pakistan 4-0 in November 2019 when Rohit Rajpal took over as non-playing captain. After that India misplaced to Finland (1-3) and Croatia (1-3) in away ties. The reverse singles have been rendered inconsequential now.
Bopanna’s massive serve was at work because the starting as he began off with three consecutive aces for a straightforward maintain. Torpeggard and Nielsen too have been sharp and stable at the same time as Sharan’s serve was put below strain. In each the third and seventh video games that Sharan served, he was down 15-30 however by some means managed to carry.
Nielsen’s smooth-actioned serves and exact placings mixed with Torpegaard’s firepower made it a tricky contest for the house pair. Nielsen didn’t lose a single level on his serve in all the opening set and that made an enormous distinction.
There was no break of serve within the opening set and a tie-breaker was required. Bopanna misplaced the primary level on his serve and the Danish crew opened up an enormous 5-1 lead from the place Torpegaard discovered a volley winner on Sharan’s return to earn 5 set factors.
Bopanna managed to save lots of two together with his booming serves however Torpeggard fired a physique serve on Bopanna to seal the opening set. Ironically, it was Nielsen who blinked within the second set, dropping his serve within the opening recreation. At 15-30, he couldn’t return one shot from Bopanna to be down by two break possibilities. He saved the primary however double-faulted on the second at hand the Indians a bonus.
That break stayed with the Indians and Sharan served out the set within the tenth to power a decider. The Indian crew had three break possibilities in opposition to Torpegaard within the fifth recreation however fluffed all. The Danish crew confirmed nerves of metal to carry that essential recreation after happening 0-40. Credit to Torpegaard to tug off these massive serves below strain.
Bopanna got here out to serve to remain within the match within the tenth recreation and was below strain when Torpegaard discovered a backhand winner to make it 30-all however the Indian held to remain afloat after one deuce level.
Edge of the seat motion adopted within the twelfth recreation when the Indian crew, saved three match factors and sealed the match in tie-breaker.
Nielsen double faulted at 1-2 after which made a backhand overhead volley error to present India a good-looking 4-1 lead which proved sufficient for India to seal the win.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
