Somdev keeps India on course

New Delhi: Somdev Devvarman brought out his fighting best to beat a player ranked 124 places above him and keep India on course for an unexpected coup over the Czech Republic tennis team in the Davis Cup World Group Playoff here on Friday.

Following Yuki Bhambri’s straight sets loss to Lukas Rosol in the opening rubber at the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association (DLTA) complex, another loss would have seen India on the brink of an exit.

But Devvarman, who has not lost in the national capital since 2010, reserved his best for the second rubber, beating World No 40 Jiri Vesely 7-6(3), 6-4, 6-3 in two hours and 44 minutes on the slow and bouncy outdoor rebound ace hard courts to level the contest at 1-1.

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 remains. Earlier in the day, Rosol had to fight the crowd, weather and a spirited fightback from Bhambri to beat the Indian and give the Czech Republic a 1-0 lead. World No 85 Rosol had to endure the extremely humid conditions to beat Bhambri 6-2, 6-1, 7-5 in an hour and 56 minutes.

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