India go 2-0 up against Uzbekistan

Bengaluru: Ramkumar Ramanathan and Prajnesh Gunneswaran handed India a 2-0 lead over Uzbekistan as they staved off a spirited challenge in their respective singles matches in the Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Group I tie here on Friday.

In the first match, 267th ranked Ramanathan overcame Temur Isamilov 6-2 5-7 6-2 7-5, while debutant Gunneswaran, ranked 187, outwitted Sanjar Fayzieb 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Ismailov is ranked 406, while Fayzieb was played in place of Denis Istomin, who had pulled out of the second round due to an injury.

To his credit, Ismailov made life difficult for the Indian despite suffering cramps in his right hamstring. Ramkumar dominated the proceedings before a bout of double faults handed Ismailov a small opening, which the Uzbek grabbed with both hands to make a match of it.

The Indian sealed the opening set in a jiffy and was leading 4-3 in the second when he saw himself down 0-40. He saved two breakpoints but netted a backhand on the third to allow Ismailov stay alive.

The Uzbek played freely while Ramkumar put himself under pressure to finish the job quickly. The nerves got to Ramkumar and, in utter desperation, he squandered four set points and was eventually broken in the 12th game.

The Uzbek had snatched the momentum but suffered cramps in his right leg making the job of the Indian easy. Ramkumar ran away with the third set as Ismailov’s restricted movements gave him easy points.

Ismailov, though, recovered remarkably after a medical timeout and was battle ready for the fourth set. Ramkumar was always catching up with the Uzbek, holding his serves without fuss, and soon it was 5-5.

Two unforced errors by Ismailov gave Ramkumar three break chances. He converted the third when Ismailov buried a return to the net. (PTI)

Will respond to Paes’ after winning the tie, says Bhupathi

Bengaluru: India’s non-playing Davis Cup captain Mahesh Bhupathi on Friday said he will give an appropriate response to estranged partner Leander Paes’ attack after winning the ongoing tie against Uzbekistan.

“We just talked that we will focus on the match and a response (to Paes) will be given after we win the tie,” Bhupathi told reporters after India took a 2-0 lead on the opening day of the Asia-Oceania Group 1 tie at the KSLTA stadium here.

After being left out of the Davis Cup for the first time in 27 years, an angry Paes had on Thursday  lashed out at Bhupathi, accusing his former partner of flouting selection criteria.

Paes hinted that his bitter relationship with Bhupathi might have played a role in his omission from the squad.

Bhupathi chose seasoned Rohan Bopanna over Paes despite the veteran winning a Challenger title in Mexico only a few days back.

Asked about results, Bhupathi said both the singles players did exceedingly well despite losing Yuki Bhambri and Saketh Myneni to injuries. (PTI)