Dhakshineswar powers India back into the elite

The last time India was among the global elite in the Davis Cup was in 2011 when it was one of 16 best nations in the World Group.

On Sunday at the S.M. Krishna Tennis Stadium here, the country returned to the high-table by beating Netherlands 3-2 in the Qualifiers first round.

It will be one of 14 representatives in the Qualifiers second round to be held in September and is likely to meet South Korea. Seven from the second round will progress to the Davis Cup Finals and join host Italy in the grand finale.

Five months ago, if anyone had predicted that a yet-to-be-capped Dhakshineswar Suresh would lead India to the Promised Land, they would have been scoffed at. But the 25-year-old, of 6’5’’ frame and gangly build, played an outsized role, winning both the doubles and reverse singles to go with the singles win on the opening day.

It was reminiscent of the great Leander Paes, who would successfully play both singles and doubles, a feat the legend last achieved in 2004 away against New Zealand.

Thrust into the doubles battle in place of Sriram Balaji, Dhakshineswar partnered Yuki Bhambri to beat Sander Arends and David Pel 7-6(0), 3-6, 7-6(1). Sumit Nagal’s 7-5, 1-6, 4-6 loss to Jesper de Jong pushed the tie into a deciding contest but Dhakshineswar came up with the goods to outwit Guy Den Ouden 6-4, 7-6(4).

The India team celebrates after winning the Davis Cup tie against the Netherlands.
| Photo Credit:
K. MURALI KUMAR

Credit should also go to the Indian think-tank led by captain Rohit Rajpal which used Balaji as a decoy and played the bluff with Dhakshineswar.

Trust was placed in the latter’s serving ability and his experience playing doubles on the U.S. collegiate circuit. And the 25-year-old did not disappoint. The tone-setting performance was the doubles where Dhakshineswar and Yuki combined to beat two players ranked in the ATP top-40.

In the first set, the Dutch pair had six break-points across two games on the Yuki serve, but did not capitalise. In the tie-breaker, they weren’t aggressive enough and paid the price.

In the second stanza, however, the visitors’ touch play found wholesome expression. Arends, wearing fluorescent orange and sporting goggles, found the tennis to match his flashy looks, and executed a series of breathtaking shots to pull his team level.

The decider was up and down, but took a nasty turn at 5-6 on the Pel serve when a fierce forehand from Yuki hit Arends’ left hand from close range. The 34-year-old took a medical time-out and came back with his little finger and ring finger tied together.

The serve toss was a problem, so was gripping the backhand. The match slipped into a decisive tie-breaker but there was only one winner.

Five hours later that joy doubled.