New Delhi: Ramkumar Ramanathan didn’t even need his ‘A-game’ to give India a 1-0 lead in the Davis Cup World Group I Play-off game against Denmark as he walked away with an easy straight-set win over a error-prone Christian Sigsgaard, here on Friday.
Ramkumar took full advantage of the Danish player’s discomfort on the grass pitch with a low bounce, winning 6-3 6-2 against Christian, who scored only 824, in the opening singles of the tie at Delhi Gymkhana Club.
There was hardly any fighting in the match, which lasted just 59 minutes, as Christian made it easy for the 170th-ranked Indian with his endless unforced errors.
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Christian struggled with his serve, made no fewer than three double errors in the second game of the opening set and was a breakpoint behind, but Ramkumar was unable to capitalize on that opportunity.
Ramkumar mainly used backhand slices for returns and remained solid in his service games. Christian gave Ramkumar another break chance when he made a double foul at 30-all in the fourth game.
A long rally followed with both players using their backhand slice strokes, but Ramkumar eventually won.
There weren’t many points as the lanky Indian entered the net, a strategy he expected to follow, but Christian’s error-prone play made it easy for Ramkumar.
The Indian had three set points in the eighth game, but was unable to convert any. He sealed the opening set in the next game with a solid serve that Christian couldn’t return, setting up a backhand.
In the second set, it was Christian who blinked first and left 0-40 in the third game. He started with a double fault and Ramkumar put more pressure on his rival with a stunning forehand crosscourt return winner. Christian then scored a return.
The Danish player gave the break to the home player when he hit a long backhand on the third break point.
There was no end to Christian’s struggles and Ramkumar finished the match with an ace in the eighth game after failing to convert four match points in the previous game.
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