Bangalore: Serbia registered a 3-2 win in the Davis Cup World Group Play Off tie against India with Filip Krajinovic defeating Yuki Bhambri in straight set 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 in the second reverse Singles played at Karnataka State Lawns Tennis Association court here on Monday.
The match was postponed in the mid-way yesterday due to rain and Filip was leading by 6-3, 4-4.
After registering first set win (6-3) yesterday, it was a cake walk for Filip who won two more points to win the second set (6-4) as Bhambri took long time to settle.
Third set saw Bhambri pulling up his socks and marching towards putting break to Serbian march by winning points right from the beginning. However, he has to blame himself as he could not maintain his tempo and went on committing errors especially in back hand strokes.
Filip, who saw Bhambari trying to bounce back, increased his aggressiveness and served three Ace points in the third game and went on smashing the ball at vacant court with full force so that his opponent did not get opportunity to return. His placing were superb through out the match.
After conceding points in the first two games (15-40, 30-40) to Bhambri, Filip changing his racquet proved his supremacy by winning the third set and the match. “I was under pressure. I have played Davis Cup for two years and I know how important is my winning. I played aggressive game as he (Bhambri) was playing flat. I am happy that my game plan fetched victory for me and the country,” said beaming Serbian lad. India, which faced defeat at the hands of the visitors in both the Singles with Devvarman and Bhambri loosing to their respective Serbian opponents on day one, saw the team bouncing back with Tennis legend Leander Paes and Rohan Bhupathi winning the Doubles event the next day to reduce the margin to 2-1 in favour of Serbia.
Somdev Devvarman kept alive India’s chances by winning reverse Singles yesterday by defeating fancied Dusan Lajovic in a thrilling five setter 1-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. However, Bhambri failed to live up to the mark and Serbian fetched their deserved win. (UNI)
