Somdev Devvarman’s giant-killing run ended with a straight-set loss to fourth seeded American Robert Kendrick in the final of the ATP Challenger Series’ hard-court tournament in Nashville, US.
The Indian Davis Cupper, who had beaten the second and third seeds in the run-up to the final, lost 3-6, 5-7.
There was further disappointment for India when Ashutosh Singh and Harsh Mankad lost 4-6, 5-7 to the Australian-American pair of Carslen Ball and Travis Rettenmaier in the doubles final.
Here is a very interesting article from the Telegraph written by Naresh Kumar. Writing on the present state of Indian Tennis he goes on to say
“Victory against Romania in Bucharest in the recent Davis Cup tie would have taken India to the dizzy heights of the elite World Group of 16. The 1-4 loss pushed us back to the Asia Oceania Group I.
Paes and Bhupathi continued their winning spree, and notched up the lone face-saving match. While knocking out the opposition, their sparring with each other continues unabated. In fact, very sadly, with the infighting that’s going on in the Davis Cup team, it should not be called a team at all.
The “magic carpet” of grasscourts has transported India to unrealistic levels in the Davis Cup. Grass, with low uneven bounce, the heat and vociferous drum-beating supporters with Delhi belly lurking in the background, is a lethal cocktail dreaded by foreign teams. “
The rest of the article is available here
India lost to Romania very badly i.e 4-1 in the Davis Cup playoffs in Bucharest. On a surface that they were hardly comfortable with, Indians even before the play started had very little chance of beating the Romanians. The sole consolation were provided by the Lee-Hesh duo who won their doubles tie with Prakash Amritraj and Somdev losing heavily.
So India will come back to the Asia-Oceania group, where they will fight out to reach the world group.
Its been a long time since India has been in the World Group of the Davis Cup. India has a chance of making it to the final round of the Davis Cup only if they play well in the play offs. But looking at the way the team is performing I am sure they wouldnt cross the first hurdle. I am not taking away credit from them for their victories. But its been ages since India last entered the World Group of Davis Cup , to be precise nearly 10 years now. The last time they entered the World Group was in 1998 and they lost to Italy 4-1. Italy went on to play in the finals of the Davis Cup, but ended as runners up to Sweden.
I can only cry at the plunge Indian Tennis has taken in the last ten years or so. While players like Lee and Hesh have done themselves a world of good in Doubles Tennis, our performance has been at the best mediocre in the Davis Cups..
Lets to cheer to our Tennis players for making it to the Playoffs.. I wish they play well and go on into the World Group and maybe the finals of Davis Cup…
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