Press Trust of India
New Delhi, Sept 18: Somdev Devvarman’s love affair with the DLTA Centre Court continued as scripted an emphatic victory to help India end with honours even in their Davis Cup tie against the Czech Republic here Friday. After the end of the first day’s play the score was 1-1 with the hosts staring firm favourites in the doubles Saturday.
Somdev (ranked 164th) defeated a higher-ranked Jiri Vesley after Yuki Bhambri’s tame defeat in the opening singles. Somdev’s biggest victory of the season could not have been timed better as India were in a spot after Yuki’s 2-6, 1-6, 5-7 defeat against big-hitting Lukas Rosol, the World No. 85.
Somdev came out and maintained his impeccable record at DLTA with a 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 6-3 win over Vesley, yet again showing that ranking was just a mere number in Davis Cup matches. Somdev has not lost a single match here since 2010 and Vesley has never won a live rubber in his Davis Cup career and the status quo remained.
Somdev’s fitness, his strong legs and the heart for fight were at work yet again as he pulled off a stunning heist. He moved swiftly on the court, hit strokes with precisions and always found a way to open the court for winners, a total of 65.
In a complete contrast to the first match in which the first set was over in just 24 minutes, Somdev and Vesley fought a battle of attrition. Twenty seven minutes into the match the score was 2-1 on serve as a baseline slugfest was on. There were seven break chances in those three games – four for Somdev, but no player could convert.
The Indian raised the level of his game by several notches as he sprayed winners and hit 11 aces in the first set. The serve was not fierce but Somdev found the perfect angles to keep the ball out of Vesley’s reach.
After a tough first set, Somdev was in his elements in the second and third sets. He broke the Vesley serve in the seventh game of the second set to take a 4-3 lead and won the set when his Czech opponent double faulted.
Down 0-2, Vesley could never find a way to challenge Somdev after that as he lost mentally. He dropped serve in fourth to let Somdev lead 3-1 and it was a matter of time before the Indian closed the contest.
Earlier, Rosol proved too hot to handle for Bhambri. The Czech player stamped his class as he thrashed 125th ranked Yuki in one hour and 55 minutes.
