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Davis Cup: India routed by Spain at home

The second reverse singles rubber was a lop-sided affair with Ramanathan failed to produce the same show as he did on opening day.

New Delhi: Spain blanked India 5-0 in the Davis Cup World Group playoff as the hosts lost both dead reverse singles on Sunday, but the atmosphere at the RK Khanna Stadium was as electric as it was on the first two days of the event.

There is no dearth of Rafael Nadal fans in this country and the more than half-filled stadium was its proof on Day Three as sections of the crowd charged up the atmosphere with energetic bouts of bhangra to the beats of the dhol at regular intervals.

Debutant teenager Sumit Nagal played his heart out for more than two hours against Spain’s experienced Marc Lopez, but breathing problems cost him as he lost 3-6, 6-1, 3-6 in the first reverse singles rubber.

Spain, who had taken an unassailable 3-0 lead after the doubles Day Two, made it a clean sweep when Ramkumar Ramanathan went down 2-6, 2-6 against world no. 3 David Ferrer.

“Nagal had some breathing problem and that stop him towards the end of the match. No two ways about it that Marc played well today… after playing four-set intense match on Saturday and three-set today. It shows how the Spanish team is fit,” India non-playing captain Anand Amritraj said.

The second reverse singles rubber was a lop-sided affair with Ramanathan failed to produce the same show as he did on opening day. Ferrer tried his best to finish off the match as early as possible clinching two sets in a row to wrap up the tie.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle. )
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