Davis Cup: NZ and India go into deciding match

Somdev Devvarman delivered when it mattered as he tamed Marcus Daniell in straight sets to level the Asia/Oceania Davis Cup tie against New Zealand 2-2, here Sunday.

India’s Somdev Devvarman celebrates a point during his 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 win over Kiwi opponent Marcus Daniell at Wilding Park.

Yuki said he worked very hard before the tie, anticipating a tough outings in New Zealand.

Mike Venus will face Yuki Bhambri in the deciding match this afternoon.

Statham has been plagued by health issues recently and struggled to play his natural running game on day one when he was beaten on Friday in straight sets by Bhambri.

Venus, ranked as low as 548 in the singles, turned the tables on Somdev, who lost the opening singles 6-4 6-4 3-6 3-6 1-6 after three hours and 43.

India had advanced to the World Group Play-offs a year ago as well only to lose 2-3 to Serbia in September.

Devvarman generally had control of each set although there were opportunities where Daniell showed that with a bit more singles play and a couple of calls going his way the set and match would have been different.

Venus’ serve let him down badly, and it was a double fault that opened the door for Bhambri to grab a 5-2 lead in a mirror image of the first set.

He thwarted Daniell’s attempt of a comeback by saving a break chance on his serve in the sixth game. But Somdev found a way to get that elusive break in the ninth and converted his first set point in the next for a 2-0 lead in the crucial rubber.

After losing the first set 6-4, the Kiwi made a better start in the second and began to look more comfortable firing back from the baseline. However, he double faulted when he was down by another break point in the fifth.

It was a matter of holding serve in the next which Devvarman did to make it 2-2 for India.