India win, advance to World Group Play-offs

India have fought back to beat New Zealand in both reverse singles matches and win their crucial Davis Cup tie in Christchurch.

Marcus Daniell has fallen to Somdev Devvarman 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in the first reverse singles match to level the tie 2-2.

The final score read 6-4,6-4,6-4 in favour of Somdev Devvarman.

The winners of the tie will book a September play-off clash with either the United States, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Japan, Switzerland or Brazil, with a place in the 2016 world group on the line.

Bhambri came out all guns blazing against Venus, who had stunned Devvarman in the first match of the tie. Daniell replaced Jose Statham, who was down with a flu, but could not help his side seal the tie.

New Zealand’s Marcus Daniell plaus a return during his defeat to India’s Somdev Devvarman in Christchurch. The Indian youngster, ranked 151st, was on top of his game as he broke Statham for the second time in the seventh game and served out the set in the second.

But Devvarman’s error rate rose as Venus played his way into the match, spurred on by an enthusiastic crowd, eventually claiming victory after three hours 48 minutes.

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.

Daniell kept fighting hard, saving two break chances in the third game of the second set, which was on serve till the eighth game.

Venus found himself broken again in the first set as Bhambri put his foot down and extended his lead, rarely looking troubled. However, he double-faulted when he was down by another break point in the fifth game.

The Kiwi was down by two break chances at the start of the third set but saved both.

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