Curtains for India
Yuki gets consolation win but Canada come good
Edmonton, Sept. 18: India were left to battle it out in the Asian zone yet again after Ramkumar Ramanathan’s defeat in the must-win fourth rubber as Denis Shapovalov steered Canada back to the elite Davis Cup World Group, here on Sunday.
India needed Ramkumar to create some magic on the final day of the tie but his failure to convert chances proved crucial as world number 51 Shapovalov shut the door on the visitors with a decisive 6-3, 7-6(1), 6-3 win.
Their fate already sealed, Yuki Bhambri won the dead fifth rubber against Brayden Schnur 64, 4-6, 6-4 as India lost the World Group Play-off tie 23 to the hosts.
In a see-saw battle, Yuki overcame lapse of concentration and an early break in the deciding set to finally convert his fifth match point and finish the indoor away tie.
It is now fourth straight year that India have not managed to cross the Playoffs hurdle, having lost to Serbia, Czech Republic and Spain in previous three attempts.
Canada thus have earned their spot back in the 16nation World Group after losing the first round to Great Britain in February this year while India will again strive in the Asia/Oceania Group I in 2018 to get to the Play-offs stage.
Indian team captain Mahesh Bhupathi rued the missed chances on all the three days.
“We did not take our chances. We had few on all the days including today when Ramkumar had four set points in the second to even the match,” Bhupathi said.
Talking about the positives from the tie, he said, “We worked and fought hard and we are very close to making the world group. Next year this time, I expect both Yuki and Ramkumar to be in top 100.”