India’s great hope against Russia, Somdev Devvarman lost the opening rubber of the Davis Cup World Group first round tie 7-6(8), 6-7(4), 3-6, 4-6 to Russia`s Igor Kunitsyn.
|Last Updated: Mar 05, 2010, 08:19 PM IST|Source: Bureau
Zeenews Bureau
Moscow: India’s great hope against Russia, Somdev Devvarman lost the opening rubber of the Davis Cup World Group first round tie 7-6(8), 6-7(4), 3-6, 4-6 to Russia`s Igor Kunitsyn.
Somdev had taken control of the first singles match after
winning the first set and taking a 5-2 lead in the second set
but lost the plot after that in a marathon contest which
lasted close to four hours.
Kunitsyn took the court in place of Igor Andreev, who was
sidelined due to a left knee injury. Andreev himself was a
last minute relacement of injured Nikolay Davydenko.
Due to slow nature of the court, long rallies came into
play and rather than the power, it was persistence, precision
and stamina that was required to earn points.
These types of courts suit Somdev`s game but Kunitsyn was
brilliant at the net and his tenacity paid in the end.
Now Rohan Bopanna will take on Mihail Youzhny in the
second singles and for India to stand any chance in the tie, a
win is the minimum it needed.
Somdev struggled a bit to control his strokes after the
first five games of the first set went with serve. That was
enough for the Russian to create a break opportunity.
Kunitsyn smashed a backhand to go 40-0 up in the sixth
game and coverted third chance to get the first break. Somdev
had saved a breakpoint in the fourth game.
Somdev though was unperturbed and immediately broke back.
Two exquisite backhands did it for the Indian and it all
boiled down to the tie-break as the next five games again went
with serve.
Somdev came up from 1-3 down to earn the first
opportunity and take lead. A big serve set up the first set
point but an attempted backhand winner sailed over the
baseline, bringing relief for the hosts.
Somdev though came up with another big serve and sealed
the first set after Kunitsyn sent a forehand wide.
Crucial lead in pocket, Somdev came up firing on all
cylinders in the second set, racing to a 3-0 lead. It could
have been a double break had Somdev converted a chance in the
fourth game.
The body language of the Russian did not look positive
after the assault but Kunitsyn fought his way into the match
and turned it around brilliantly. He broke Somdev in the fifth
game but only to drop his serve in the next game.
With 5-2 cushion it looked one way traffic in favour of
Somdev but soon the match was back to even terms with the
Russian winning three consecutive games and stretched it to a
tie-breaker. Some line calls also contributed in disturbing
Somdev`s rhythm. His confidence back, Kunitsyn unleashed some powerful
shots and played intelligently. He set up points beautifully
by pinning Somdev to baseline and suprisingly the match which
looked like going India`s way was again alive.
Momentum shifted in favour of the host player but Somdev
too was not ready to throw in the towel and an intriguing
fight ensued in the third set.
Another doubtful call on a Somdev forehand handed
Kunitsyn a crucial break in the eighth game. Somdev pleaded
his case with the chair umpire but the decision remained and
the Russian served out the set in the next game.
The two players fought hard in the fourth set but it was
the Russian who took points when it matttered most and gave
his side lead.
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.