Ramkumar loses as India trail Serbia in Davis Cup Play-off

KRALJEVO (SERBIA): Ramkumar Ramanthan gave his all but it wasn’t enough to stop Laslo Djere from winning his first Davis Cup match as India trail Serbia 0-1 in the World Group Play-off here on Friday.

Ramkumar battled hard before losing 6-3, 4-6, 6-7(2), 2-6 to Djere in the opening singles which lasted three hours and 11 minutes on indoor clay. Djere, ranked 86, had lost both his earlier Davis Cup matches before clashing with Ramkumar, ranked 135, at Kraljevo Sports Venue. At the time of going to press, Prajnesh Gunneswaran was trailing Dusan Lajovic 4-6, 3-5 in the second rubber. Sriram Balaji and Rohan Bopanna will take on Nikola Milojevic and Danilo Petrovic in the lone doubles rubber on Saturday.

CROATIA TAKE 2-0 LEAD OVER USA IN SEMIS

ZADAR: Croatia raced to a commanding 2-0 lead over the United Status on the opening day of their Davis Cup semi-final in Zadar on Friday. In the first rubber Borna Coric justified his favourite’s tag and defeated Steve Johnson 6-4, 7-6 (4), 6-3. Croatian No 1 and World No 6 Marin Cilic then defeated Frances Tiafoe 6-1, 6-3, 7-6(5).

DEBUTANT PAIRE HELPS FRANCE LEAD SPAIN 1-0

LILLE: Benoit Paire made a remarkable Davis Cup debut for France, outplaying Pablo Carreno-busta 7-5, 6-1, 6-0 in the opening rubber of the World Group semi-final vs Spain. Paire had never been selected for his country before, admitting that his erratic performances on court meant he could previously never properly be trusted.