Busan (South Korea): India on Sunday clinched a spot in the Davis Cup World Group playoffs after downing South Korea 3-1 in their second round tie at the city of Busan here. With India ahead 2-1 heading into the final day, Somdev Devvarman beat Lim Yong-Kyu, 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 6-1, in the opening rubber.
With the winner already decided, both captains agreed not to play the second singles rubber of the day between Sanam Singh and Chung Hyeon. Devvarman, ranked 88th in the singles, won the opening two games before Lim, number 300, claimed four consecutive games to take the lead. Devvarman returned the favour by winning four games in a row to close out the set. At 5-5 in the second set, Lim held his serve and broke Devvarman to pull even.
Devvarman went ahead 3-1 to start the third set and won it 6-3. Lim suffered leg cramps in the fourth set, as Devvarman cruised to a 6-1 win and closed out the match.
On Friday Devvarman had defeated Chung Hyeon in straight sets, 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/3), 6-4. Then Lim dispatched Sanam Singh in three sets, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4, 6-4.
On Saturday India’s Rohan Bopanna and Saketh Myneni defeated Lee Hyung-Taik and Lim Yong-Kyu 7-6 (7/4), 5-7, 7-6(7/2), 6-3. South Korea had been chasing their first World Group playoff berth since 2008 and had been hopeful of success this time around, after beating India 4-1 in each of their previous two meetings.
