Bops-Sharan win but India lose 1-3 to Italy, back to Davis Cup zonals

Kolkata, February 2 

India lived up to their doubles reputation but were no match to far-superior Italy in the singles rubbers as they went down 1-3 in the Davis Cup World Group qualifier tie.

Italy, who had won the tournament in 1976, will now take part in the inaugural 18-nation finals in Madrid in November while India will be relegated back to the zonals.

Opening day singles successes for Andreas Seppi and debutant Matteo Berrettini had left the Indians with no further room for error. On Saturday, the experienced Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharan — who were coming into the meet on the back of their Maharashtra Open win — came back from a set down to outshine Italy’s doubles specialist Simone Bolelli and 22-year old Berrettini, thus raising hopes of a comeback much like the 3-2 win against China in the Asia/Oceania Group I last year from a similar situation.

Seppi rules

But Seppi, ranked 37th in the world, swept aside India’s highest ranked singles player Prajnesh Gunneswaran in straight sets to leave the vociferous crowd high and dry. India’s non-playing captain Mahesh Bhupathi had stressed they had the best chance on grass, but the gulf in class was visible from Day 1 in all the singles ties and Bhupathi later conceded the same. The hosts started the second day on the best possible note with Bopanna and Sharan not losing heart despite losing the first set to break Berrettini in the fourth game of the second set before sealing the issue 4-6 6-3 6-4. 

Berrettini, whose sterling show on Friday forced captain Corrado Barazzutti to keep him in the mix for the doubles ahead of their No. 1 ranked player Marco Cecchinato, failed to live up to his billing as India made the most of the momentum gathered in the second set to break Bolelli twice after Sharan failed to hold on to his serve in the fourth game.

Clinical Bopanna 

A clinical Bopanna forehand and a fine volley by Sharan gave the Indians two break points. Bopanna fired in a deep return that proved too much for Bolelli as he hit the net to concede the set. India cruised to 30-0 in the ninth game with Bolelli conceding the second point by a double-fault as the Indians broke again. Serving for the set and match, Bopanna and Sharan once again combined well to keep their hopes intact. Making a comeback for the first time since 2012, southpaw Sharan complemented senior pro Bopanna and wrapped it up with a forehand volley winner in the end.

In the reverse singles, it was always going to be an uphill task for Gunneswaran to stun Seppi and there was no upset on the cards as the 34-year old eased to a 6-1 6-4 verdict. 

Australia, Germany, Italy grab finals berths 

Paris: Australia, Germany and Italy punched tickets to the Davis Cup finals, while Japan rallied from a 1-2 deficit as Taro Daniel won the decisive rubber to overcome China. Australia romped to a 4-0 rout of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Adelaide. Germany eased to a 3-0 victory over Hungary. Japan fought back after dropping the doubles to sweep the reverse singles in Guangzhou as Daniel clinched the final point with a tense 6-3 6-7 (4/7) 6-3 victory over Li Zhe. Kazakhstan are also through as Mikhail Kukushkin completed a 3-1 victory over Portugal. Canada will need Denis Shapovalov and Felix Auger-Aliassime to both win in singles after they lost 3-6 7-5 6-3 to Slovakia’s Martin Klizan and Filip Polasek. Uzbekistan roared back from 2-0 down to send their clash against Serbia. The 12 winners in qualifying this weekend will join automatic qualifiers Croatia, France, United States, Spain, Argentina and Britain in November’s finals in Madrid. 

India back to zonals

With this win, Italy advanced to the Davis Cup final round, while India will have to play the zonals to have a shot at the World Group Qualifier next year

 — IANS