After Ramkumar’s defeat, India bow out of Davis Cup
EDMONTON: India are left to battle it out in the Asian Zone yet again. Ramkumar Ramanathan’s defeat in the must-win fourth rubber against Denis Shapovalov steered Canada back to the Davis Cup World Group here on Sunday, dashing Indian hopes.
India needed Ramkumar to create some magic on the final day after the doubles pair had lost. But his failure to convert chances proved crucial as world No 51 Shapovalov shut the door on the visitors with a 6-3, 7-6 (1), 6-3 win.
Their fate already sealed, Yuki Bhambri won the dead fifth rubber against Brayden Schnur 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 as India lost the World Group playoff tie 2-3.
In a seesaw battle, Yuki overcame a lapse of concentration and an early break in the deciding set, eventually converting his fifth match point at the indoor court.
For the fourth straight year India have not managed to cross the playoffs hurdle, having lost to Serbia, Czech Republic and Spain in the previous three attempts.
Canada have earned their spot back in the 16-nation World Group after losing in the first round to Great Britain in February. India will again strive in the Asia/oceania Group I in 2018.
India captain Mahesh Bhupathi rued missed chances on all three days.
“We did not take our chances. We had a few on all the days including today when Ramkumar had four set points in the second to even the match,” Bhupathi said.
However, he saw positives from the tie. “We worked and fought hard and we are very close to making the World Group. Next year, I expect both Yuki and Ramkumar to be in the top 100.”
In a nervous start, Ramkumar lost 11 straight points but gradually a serve-and-volley strategy helped him negate Shapovalov’s fiery ground strokes.
The Chennai youngster took time to find his rhythm but by the time the butterflies in his stomach settled, Shapovalov had gone 4-1 up with a break of serve in the opening set.
It was one-way traffic till the eighth game as the Canadian lefthander lost only three points till he was about to serve out the opening set.
Ramkumar tried to serve and volley but Shapovalov was quick with his returns, hardly giving time to the Indian to charge the net and finish the points.
Ramkumar did pose a few questions in the ninth game with some sharp returns, earning two breakpoints. But the 18-year-old Shapovalov used his big serve to
RAMKUMAR TRIED TO SERVE AND VOLLEY BUT SHAPOVALOV WAS QUICK WITH HIS RETURNS, HARDLY GIVING THE INDIAN TIME TO CHARGE
save both, serving out with an ace.
The Indian grew in confidence and put up a much better fight in the second set as he served two games to love. The chip and
charge strategy paid dividends as he led 5-4.
However, the good work came to naught as he could not convert any of the four set points he earned in the 12th game, eventually losing the tie-breaker with his fifth double fault of the match.
Despite being put under pressure, Shapovalov, leading the fight in Milos Raonic’s absence, won 13 of the last 15 points in the second set. That was the difference between them. Ramkumar could convert none of the six break chances he got.