NEW DELHI: India’s Ramkumar Ramanathan and N Sriram Balaji lost their crucial doubles match against Sweden’s Andre Goransson and Filip Bergevi in the Davis Cup World Group I tie in Stockholm.
The loss with a score of 3-6, 4-6 on Sunday resulted in India conceding an unassailable 0-3 lead in the tie.
India needed to win the doubles match after losing both singles matches on Saturday to stay in contention.However, the Indian pair struggled to maintain consistency and succumbed to the Swedish duo in one hour and 19 minutes.
The defeat marked India’s sixth consecutive loss against Sweden in Davis Cup history.
The reverse singles matches are now inconsequential as Sweden has already secured victory.
The Indian team will now face the Play-offs next year to retain their place in World Group I.
In the opening set, Balaji and Ramkumar had a breakpoint opportunity in the third game on Goransson’s serve but could not capitalize. Ramkumar was broken in the following game, and the Swedish team extended their lead to 5-2 before sealing the set with Bergevi’s serve.
In the second set, Ramkumar started strong with a love hold, but the Indian duo faced difficulties in crucial moments. Balaji encountered pressure in his service games, giving away break points. Despite saving some, the Swedish team broke his serve again in the seventh game and later closed out the match in the 10th game.
Ramkumar ended the match with a forehand return that went outside the lines on the match point.
The loss means India must now prepare for the Play-offs to maintain their spot in World Group I for the next season.
The loss with a score of 3-6, 4-6 on Sunday resulted in India conceding an unassailable 0-3 lead in the tie.
India needed to win the doubles match after losing both singles matches on Saturday to stay in contention.However, the Indian pair struggled to maintain consistency and succumbed to the Swedish duo in one hour and 19 minutes.
The defeat marked India’s sixth consecutive loss against Sweden in Davis Cup history.
The reverse singles matches are now inconsequential as Sweden has already secured victory.
The Indian team will now face the Play-offs next year to retain their place in World Group I.
In the opening set, Balaji and Ramkumar had a breakpoint opportunity in the third game on Goransson’s serve but could not capitalize. Ramkumar was broken in the following game, and the Swedish team extended their lead to 5-2 before sealing the set with Bergevi’s serve.
In the second set, Ramkumar started strong with a love hold, but the Indian duo faced difficulties in crucial moments. Balaji encountered pressure in his service games, giving away break points. Despite saving some, the Swedish team broke his serve again in the seventh game and later closed out the match in the 10th game.
Ramkumar ended the match with a forehand return that went outside the lines on the match point.
The loss means India must now prepare for the Play-offs to maintain their spot in World Group I for the next season.
