India will meet fifth seed Serbia in the Davis Cup World Group playoff to be played from September 14 to 16. Since India had hosted the tie between the two countries the last time, it will be Serbia’s turn to host the tie.
India had performed increasingly well in the two matches it played in 2011 and 2014 against Serbia. Somdev Devvarman won his singles against Janko Tipsarevic in Novi Sad in 2011 when the team lost 4-1 in the World Group first round.
It was a lot more competitive in 2014 in the World Group playoff in Bengaluru when India stretched Serbia before bowing out 3-2. Rohan Bopanna and Leander Paes won the doubles after being two sets down. Somdev once again did well, stunning Dusan Lajovic in the first reverse singles.
Playing the fifth rubber on Monday, after a rain interruption on the third day, Yuki Bhambri lost in straight sets to Filip Krajinovic.
“Tough always when we play away, but we will give it a good shot,” said Mahesh Bhupathi, captain of the Indian team.
The match will be held on the original best-of-five sets format, spread over three days. The Asia-Oceania tie against China, which India won 3-2 in Tianjin last week after being down 0-2, was played in the best-of-three sets format and restricted to two days of action.
