DAVIS CUP: INDIA ELIMINATED AFTER 1-3 LOSS TO ITALY
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 one in all singles ties and he later conceded the same.
India lived up to their doubles reputation, but were no match to their far superior Italy in the singles rubbers as they went down 1-3 in the Davis Cup World Group qualifier tie here on Saturday.
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 veteran 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 Bolleli and 22-year old Berrettini, thus raising hopes of a comeback much like the 3-2 win against China in Asia/ Oceania Group I last year from a similar situation.
But Seppi, ranked 37th in the world, swept aside India’s highest ranked singles player Prajnesh in straight sets to leave the vociferous crowd at the action-starved South Club—hosting the meet after 16 years—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 one in all singles ties and Bhupathi later conceded the same.
“Everybody needs to live in the real world. How many countries, which have made it to the finals, have players outside the top 100? You can’t expect miracles in sport. It doesn’t work like that,” Bhupathi said.
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 before sealing the issue 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Berrettini, whose sterling show on Friday forced captain Corrado Barazzutti to keep 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 Bolleli twice after Sharan failed to hold on to his serve in the fourth game.
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. All fired up with the crowd on their feet, India cruised to 30-0 in the ninth game with Bolelli conceding the second point by a double-fault as they broke them again.
Serving for the set and match, Bopanna and Sharan once again complemented 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.
“It was a tough doubles. It was not too easy for us in this surface but I think we played very good doubles. I think the first set was good. Bad luck on the third set. We lost a very tough match. Think they played better but we also played good,” Bolleli said later.
In the reverse singles, it was always going to be an uphill task for Prajnesh, who hit a career high ranking of 102 recently, to stun Seppi and there was no upset on the cards as the 34-year old eased to a 6-1, 6-4 verdict.
“We just could not step up to the challenge. We didn’t play with enough intensity. We didn’t play with enough intensity. We played under pressure. I did what I could but it wasn’t good enough,” Prajnesh said.
In the opening rubber on Day 1, Ramkumar Ramanathan, ranked 133rd in the world, frittered two break points in the second and eighth game of the first set to lose to Seppi 6-4, 6-2. In the second rubber, Prajnesh had no chance against in-form Berrettini as the 2018 Swiss Open winner won 6-4, 6-3. IANS Italy’s seniormost player Andreas Seppi on Saturday said he adapted well to the grass and liked playing on the surface after helping his side breeze past India 3-1 to qualify for the Davis Cup Finals.
“I think I played well in two singles. I was solid so I think I adapt well to the grass. I like to play on this surface,” said the 34-year-old ranked 37th in the world.
India chose the grass court of the Calcutta South Club as the venue for their World Cup Qualifier knowing that Italians have not done well on the surface in recent years.
But save the doubles tie, where Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharan prevailed over Simone Bolleli and Matteo Berrettini, Italy won three singles rubbers convincingly with Seppi starring in the two. In the draw, Italy captain Corrado Barazzutti had put Seppi ahead of the top ranked Marco Cecchinato to play the singles.
He lived up to the expectations by beating both India’s top two singles players—ramkumar Ramanathan and Prajnesh Gunneswaran—in straight sets.
Asked about Ramkumar and Prajnesh, Seppi said they have the potential and can do better.
“The Indian players are doing well. They are around 100 in the rankings. For sure they can improve. Especially, on the faster surface they can do well. We’ll see how they do this year.”
Asked about the new format, Seppi said: “I always liked playing best of five, but am getting older. For me, it’s better to play shorter matches.”
Berrettini said playing on the grass was important for him early on in the year.
“I did not play so much on the grass. Every match is important for me. The grass season is far away from now. I had a good experience here.” IANS