Yuki Bhambri beat Jose Statham 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 to complete a 4-1 triumph for India over New Zealand in their Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Group 1 first-round clash in Pune on Sunday. Earlier in the day, Ramakumar Ramanathan had sealed the tie for India with a 7-5, 6-1, 6-0 win over Finn Tearney.
The 24-year-old Bhambri, with a world ranking of 368th, made a magnificent comeback in the first set, winning four games on the trot to come back from 2-5 down and win the set 7-5. The same script followed in the second set: after scores were tied at 2-2, the 29-year-old Statham sped ahead to take a 5-2 lead. Bhambri pulled one game back but could repeat his first set’s heroics, losing the set 3-6.
In a closely contested third set, both players traded blows. Bhambri however held a slim lead of 3-2 and 5-4 and managed to take the set 6-4 and with it, the match.
This win takes India to the second round of the Asia-Oceania Group I where they will meet Uzbekistan in April. On Friday, Yuki Bhambri and Ramanthan had won their respective single rubbers to put India 2-0 up. New Zealand got one back through the Kiwi duo of Artem Sitak and Michael Venus who defeated Leander Paes and Vishnu Vardhan 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(6), 6-3 on Saturday.
Buy an annual Scroll Membership to support independent journalism and get special benefits.
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!