India outdo South Korea, in World Group play-offs
BUSAN: India clinched a spot in the Davis Cup World Group playoffs after downing South Korea 3-1 in their second-round tie in the southeastern South Korean city of Busan.
With India ahead 2-1 heading into the final day, Somdev Devvarman beat Lim Yong-Kyu, 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 6-1, in the first reverse singles.
With the winner already decided, both captains agreed not to play the second singles rubber of the day between Sanam Singh and Chung Hyeon.
“Unreal effort by @SomdevD to give us the win against Korea! fightttttt @rohanbopanna , #teamindiaaaaaa..” tweeted Indian team member Sanam Singh.
“Beast Somdev :),” added Rohan Bopanna, who partnered Saketh Myneni in the crucial doubles win yesterday which handed India the advantage.
ITALY STUN BRITAIN
NAPLES: Italy foiled Great Britain’s dream of a first Davis Cup semifinal in 33 years with a 3-2 win in Naples. Italy’s world No 13 Fabio Fognini stunned Andy Murray 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 to level the tie at 2-2, with Andreas Seppi securing the decisive last point with a 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 victory over James Ward.
Italy await the winner of the quarterfinal in Geneva, where world No 3 Stanislas Wawrinka beat Mikhail Kukushkin, the world 56, 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 to bring Switzerland level at 2-2 against Kazakhstan.
In Nancy, a tenacious fightback saw France beat Germany 3-2. Gael Monfils secured the decisive fifth point with a 6-1, 7-6 (7/0), 6-2 win over Peter Gojowczyk after Jo-Wilfried Tsonga had levelled the tie beating Tobias Kamke 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.
In the semis, France take on Czech Republic who completed a 5-0 sweep of hosts Japan in Tokyo, as Lukas Rosol beat Yasutaka Uchiyama 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 and Jiri Vesely overpowered Taro Daniel 6-4, 6-4 to complete the onesided tie.