Islamabad: India blunted Pakistan’s challenge on day one to take a 2-0 lead in the Davis Cup World Group I play-offs with Ramkumar Ramanathan and N Sriram Balaji rising to the occasion in the contest under high pressure, here Saturday.
Ramkumar lost the first set after battling hard against a fiery Aisam, much to the delight of the partisan crowd, but bounced back to emerge victorious 6-7 (3), 7-6 (4), 6-0 at Sports from Islamabad. Complex in freezing cold conditions.
Balaji, a doubles specialist, was challenged by Aqeel Khan, but the Indian beat the Pakistani veteran 7-5, 6-3 in the rain-hit second singles.
Balaji was in control of the match. He beat Aqeel once in both sets. Her movement, her powerful serve, her use of drop shots ultimately came together for a comfortable victory in the end.
India are now one win away from qualifying for World Group I.
Earlier, Aisam had struggled to contain his double faults while Ramkumar started to come back better as the match progressed.
Aisam played out of his skin to make it a match, but struggled with his left hamstring early in the third set. He ran out of steam towards the end.
Ramkumar saved two break points in the eighth game of the second set, which ultimately became crucial in the outcome of the match.
Ramkumar quickly overcame initial nervousness to serve out the opening game at love with an ace.
The points were long when Aisam was serving, but when the home favorite scored a return serve winner off Ramkumar’s serve in the third game, it was clear the match was on.
Ramkumar, extremely well served. He had fired five aces in his first three service games, closing the fifth with his third ace of the match.
Aisam often charged the net and also used drop shots very effectively. The Pakistani had committed three double faults but came back strong in the following points to remain unscathed.
Ramkumar played high-quality percentage tennis, serving five set games in the first set which was eventually settled on a tiebreaker.
Aisam took a 3-0 lead with a break of serve on the first point, Ramkumar hitting a forehand wide and Asiam holding her serves on the following points.
A right lob from Ramkumar that went long gave Aisam his first set point and he converted it with an ace and let out a roar.
Ramkumar got the kind of start he needed in the second set. He reeled off eight straight points to take a break as Aisam dropped his serve out of love.
The Indian, however, squandered the opportunity to pile on the pressure further by dropping his serve in the fourth game. Aisam made some great backhand shots. The one that stood out was a return of service winner while trailing 30-40.
He earned a breakpoint with a screaming backhand winner and Ramkumar buckled under the pressure by hitting a forehand wide.
Excited, Asiam held the match easily to lead 3-2. In the eighth game, Ram saved two breakpoints. Once again, it was Aisam’s winning return of service which earned him two break points. Ramkumar saved both with a good serve.
In a repeat of the first set, it all came down to the tiebreaker and this time it was the Indian who got the break on the first point by hitting a return of serve winner. In no time, Ramkumar took a 4-0 lead and quickly secured five set points. Aisam saved the first four but Ramkumar made the fifth with an ace.
Ramkumar drew first blood in the third set, breaking Aisam in the second game. He attacked Aisam’s serve with his forehands.
Aisam led 40-15, but Ramkumar hit a backhand winner and followed up with another winner to make it two points. Ram found a service return winner to earn a break point and Aisam double-faulted to help his rival.
Aisam was now struggling and took a medical break to treat his groin and hamstring. Ramkumar ran away with the match after that.
