Davis Cup: Yuki, Sanam complete 5-0 rout of Kiwis
With the tie already in pocket, Yuki pushed India closer to a whitewash after he struggled past Jose Statham 2-6 7-5 7-6(5) in the fourth rubber, which lasted for two hours and 41 minutes under scorching sun.
Sanam,
who had to wait for his turn until the last match, closed the tie in
style with a dominating 6-4 6-1 win against Artem Sitak in one hour and
17 minutes.
Sanam's
win was the first straight one for India in this tie as the other
matches, except the second rubber, lasted full distance.
Three
wins on the first two days had already ensured that India will stay in
Group I for 2013 competition. The Kiwi team will fight it out with
Chinese Taipei next month to retain its place in Group I.
It's the first time since the 2005 tie against Uzbekistan that India have whitewashed an opponent in Davis Cup.
The
youngsters have already been rewarded for their good show as AITA has
said it will stick to them till India competes in the Asia/Ocenia Group
zone.
Since
Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna will not be considered for selection
for close to two years, these youngsters will be India's face in the
Davis Cup.
Sanam
found himself in the pit several times in the first set, but managed to
get out every time. He was lightening quick on the court and had the
sting in his shots. The two players exchanged serves in sixth and seven
games to be locked 3-3. A double fault by Sitak on a break point put
Sanam ahead.
The
Indian was again in danger of losing the advantage but saved three
breakpoints before pocketing the set. The second set completely belonged
to Sanam.
Earlier, Yuki overcame a sluggish start to set India up for a rout.
Yuki
was far from convincing and it was his second come-from-behind win as
he had erased a two-set deficit in the opening singles.
Yuki
also battled cramps towards the end but hung on to eke out a win. Many a
times he was in advantageous position but could not deliver the
knockout punch. At 40-0, he was up by three break points in the 12th
game of the second set, but took two more to finally draw parity.
After
failing to convert his first match point in the final set, he was up
5-0 in the match tie-break, but allowed Statham to take five points on
the trot to make it 5-5.
Yuki
was slow off the blocks, struggling with his first serve. After
committing two double faults and netting a forehand, he was facing a
breakpoint in the very first game.
Yuki
had his chances in game four but squandered two breakpoints. Unforced
errors added to his struggle as he dropped his serve at love to hand 3-2
lead to Statham.
The
youngster was even missing easy put-aways. Two more double faults
coupled with unforced errors put Yuki down by another break and Statham
found himself 5-2 ahead.
Yuki
saved two set points before conceding the lead in 37 minutes. The Delhi
lad improved slightly in the second set but still he was far from his
best. The searing heat started to bother Statham as his movement slowed
down.
The
set went on serve for 11 games, and Statham was serving to stay. The
Kiwi played his most inconsistent game of the match as three unforced
errors put Yuki a point away from pushing the issue to the third set.
However,
the Indian youngster, at 40-0 on Statham's serve, squandered four set
points before finally converting the fifth with a forehand winner.
The
double fault came to haunt Yuki again as his sixth of the match handed
his rival a chance to nose ahead in the decider. He saved it with a deft
drop shot but sent a forehand long to let his rival go up 3-2.
Statham was struggling to cope with the heat. His movement dropped and he was trying to keep the points short.
Yuki, too, was struggling to move as he suffered cramps, which allowed the decider to go full diatnace.
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