Indian Davis Cup staff poses for {photograph} after defeating Pakistan in Islamabad on February 4, 2024.
| Photo Credit: PTI
The Indian Davis Cup staff capped off its historic go to to Pakistan after 60 years by sealing a place in World Group I as Yuki Bhambri and Saketh Myneni handed the aspect an unassailable 3-0 lead in the play-off tie with their snug win in Islamabad on February 4.
Taking the courtroom with a 2-0 lead in pocket, Bhambri and Myneni subdued the house staff of Muzammil Murtaza and Aqeel Khan 6-2 7-6(5) in the doubles rubber to increase India’s dominance over Pakistan in the event.
Aqeel changed Barkat Ullah in the aspect. The thought was to have an skilled participant for the do-or-die match, a defeat in which provides India the tie.
However, Bhambri and the big-serving Myneni didn’t put a foot improper in the match in which they weren’t troubled by their rivals a lot. The gulf in high quality in the 2 groups was obvious.
Myneni’s massive serves had been too scorching to deal with for the house staff. Myneni hardly misplaced some extent on his serve and was additionally excellent on the web.
The Indian gamers’ returns had been additionally higher as a number of occasions Bhambri despatched down winners between the 2 Pakistani gamers.
It was India’s eighth win in as many conferences in the occasion, known as the World Cup of tennis and now it should compete in World Group I in September this yr whereas Pakistan will keep in Group II.
The Indian staff tailored properly to the robust circumstances and the heavy safety round them, not letting the restrictions on their motion have an hostile affect on them.
The Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) did properly in creating a security web across the gamers, as a number of companies labored in tandem to make sure that the historic tie went with none untoward incidents.
Bhambri and Myneni had a decent grip over the competition from the start. They broke Aqeel in the primary and fifth video games for a commanding 4-1 lead. In sport one, Aqeel hit a backhand lengthy and broad to be down two breakpoints.
While Myneni hit broad on first, he discovered and simple volley winner on Aqeel’s feeble return.
The Pakistani stalwart once more dropped serve in sport 5, his overhead flat smash flying over the baseline at 30-all and Bhambri despatched down a crushing forehand winner between the 2 gamers to shut the sport.
Murtaza went down by three set factors in sport seven however saved all as the 2 gamers lastly bought some rhythm.
Bhambri got here out to serve the set and did with ease as Murtaza couldn’t return a widish serve from the Indian on the primary set level.
Aqeel lastly started to carry his serve. The second set was 5-5 on serve. In between Murtaza saved three break possibilities in sport 5. It boiled all the way down to a tie-breaker in which just a few errors from the Indians bought the Pakstanis forward 4-2.
However, Bhambri and Myneni ensured that there was no twist in the story. They shortly made it 5-5 as Aqeel and Murtaza lacked coordination.
Aqeel double faulted at match factors.
