Serbia, on Monday, ensured that its seven-year date with the Davis Cup World Group remained unhitched.
Filip Krajinovic’s 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 win over Yuki Bhambri in the rain-delayed fifth rubber made sure that Serbia stayed in the company of the elites even as it consigned India to at least another year in the Asia–Oceania Group.
After third-ranked Spain’s relegation to Group I for the first time since 1996 on Sunday, second-ranked Serbia plummeting along with it would have been a bitter pill. But the fans world over, thankfully, did not have to swallow it.
A 12 p.m. start meant that the players were set to work in alien conditions. And a working day ensured that the number of spectators could be counted.
“It was not easy,” said Krajinovic.
“After watching the Somdev match, I was waiting all day. I was playing 2-2 for the first time in my life in Davis Cup. After the delay, it was mentally very hard. Today physically it was hard. It was very humid.”
When it got underway, nothing seemed to matter. Krajinovic broke immediately to serve for the second set at 5-4.
No forehand Bhambri’s backhand worked ever so well. An instance of which stood out was when, pinned deep behind the ‘T’ he hit a remarkable cross-court double-hander. But he undid all that with a non-existent forehand.
His ploy was to play first-strike tennis. But in his desperation to go for winners, he overcooked most of them.
In the third set, thrice on Krajinovic’s serve Bhambri had him on 0-30, 0-30 and 15-40. But he took none of those chances. The 22-year-old Serb served big on each of those instances. He taught Bhambri the advantages of game which flows from the serve.
“I have had chances all week,” said Bhambri after the defeat. “I just didn’t take them. It’s disappointing. There is more disappointment considering that others played well and I didn’t deliver.
“Whatever I did, didn’t work and I repeated the mistakes from the first match. We need to go back and start all-over again.”
Fruitful year The past year has seen many gains for India. Under a well-respected captain, the team looks as closely knit as ever. Performances on court have also followed.
Not many gave them a chance even against a team sans Novak Djokovic, Janko Tipsarevic and Viktor Troicki. A 2-3 result should do them a world of good.
An ideal springboard for future successes.
