Kraljevo (Serbia): Hosts Serbia took a 2-0 lead against India in their Davis Cup World Group Play-off tie after Dusan Lajovic cruised past Prajnesh Gunneswaran 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 in the singles, Friday. It was second singles loss on the day for India after Ramkumar Ramanathan lost 6-3, 4-6, 6-7(2-7), 2-6 to Laslo Djere.
With Serbia in the driving seat, Lajovic was never forced to hit top gear and it was plain sailing for the Serbian after he labored through the opening set.
Both players committed a flurry of unforced errors and dropped serve several times, but having broken Lajovic to stay in the set at 5-4 Gunneswaran then failed to hold his own in the next game and handed his opponent the initiative. The Serbian needed no second invitation to take a stranglehold on the match and cruised through the second set.
Lajovic was too strong though as he mixed baseline forehand winners with delightful drop shots and searing backhand stingers which kept Gunneswaran on the back foot early in the third set, giving the Serbian a comfortable 3-1 lead, eventually giving the set to the Serb.