During a crucial moment in his Davis Cup match, Thomas Setodji nearly scored, but couldn’t quite pull it off. He let a backhand slice fall short, which drew a small smile from him. This was just a glimpse of the day where India showed their strength, dominating their opponent, Ramkumar Ramanathan, who is ranked much lower. The Indian team went into the weekend with a solid 2-0 lead in the tie, putting them close to advancing to World Group 1.
Setodji eventually scored his points, despite the slow conditions of the Centre Court at the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association (DLTA) stadium. Here, Ramanathan’s aggressive serve-and-volley style wasn’t as effective. In the end, Setodji won decisively with a score of 6-0, 6-2, following Sasikumar Mukund’s own victory against Liova Ajavon, which finished at 6-2, 6-1. The atmosphere was energized by almost 2,500 fans, cheering on their home team.
This win puts India just one match away from returning to World Group 1, a level they had fallen from after losing to Sweden last year. Mukund expressed his satisfaction after the match, saying, “It was an excellent day for us. This is the best team environment we could have had, and it makes all the difference.”
Recent Davis Cup rounds have been filled with drama for the Indian team. Some top players, including Mukund, have shared their frustrations with the All India Tennis Association (AITA). The results of AITA’s latest elections are currently on hold due to a court petition. Mukund noted that the drama has never been about tennis itself, but rather about maintaining a positive atmosphere. He appreciated that the non-playing captain, Rohit Rajpal, was able to keep disruptive influences away from the players’ area this time around.
Mukund’s path in the Davis Cup hasn’t always been smooth. In 2023, his debut was marred by physical issues in Lucknow, and he had to retire while leading against Morocco. This time, however, he approached the game with confidence, winning against Ajavon in just over an hour. Mukund executed his strategy well, utilizing a strong baseline game to keep his opponent off balance.
Ajavon aimed to break Mukund’s rhythm with his unique shots, but Mukund’s solid play quickly prevailed. Despite facing a brief challenge early on, he maintained control and finished the match without losing his serve. “I kept the plan very simple,” he reflected, pleased with his performance and growth as a player.
Similarly, Ramanathan had an impressive match, hitting 10 aces and dominating his opponent. He won 51 of 73 points, showing no mercy and ensuring that the chance of an upset was out of reach. “An excellent serving day helps, and I stayed aggressive, especially on break points,” he said after his win.
Looking ahead, on Sunday, N Sriram Balaji and debutant Rithvik Bollipalli will take to the court in the only doubles match, with a chance to secure victory for India. Meanwhile, young talent Karan Singh hopes to make his debut in the final dead rubber.
Source link
Davis Cup, India Tennis News, Tennis news
