Bhambri, Ramkumar give a flying start

Pune: Ramkumar Ramanthan scored a fluent win after Yuki Bhambri eked out a straight set victory to hand India a commanding 2-0 lead against New Zealand on the opening day of the Asia/Oceania Group I Davis Cup tie, at the Shiv Chatrapati sports complex in Balewadi.Pune on Friday.

Yuki was far from his best but still managed a straight-set victory over Finn Tearney in the first singles to hand India a 1-0 lead against New Zealand in the Asia/Oceania Group I round tie in Pune, on Friday.

The 24-year-old Delhi lad, ranked 368, trailed in the first two sets but made amends to take a 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 win in two hours and 10 minutes against his 26-year-old rival from Wellington who is ranked 414.

Bhambri won the first set in 47 minutes after trailing 1-3 and then won four games in a row to lead 5-3, the decisive break coming in the seventh game.

Although Tearney held serve to stay in the set, the Indian served out the 10th game at with a forehand winner to pocket the opening set.

Ramkumar clinched the opening set in just half hour with one service break in the fourth game that put him 3-1 up. Serving consistently well, often delivering the first ones at over 200 kmph, and hitting precise ground strokes, the tall Chennai lad dominated his vastly experienced opponent from the beginning of the
opening set.

He also served three aces, including one down the T when he was holding a set-point, and largely played confident strokes accompanied by grunts.

Veteran Leander Paes, eyeing a world record 43 doubles wins in the Davis Cup history, will partner Vishnu Vardhan on Saturday to seal the tie for the hosts.