After losing both their singles matches on Saturday, India needed to win the third match to stay alive in the tie but Ramkumar and Balaji fell 3-6 4-6 to Andre Goransson and Filip Bergevi in one hour and 19 minutes to concede an unassailable 0-3 lead.
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India’s dismal record against Sweden in the Davis Cup continued as it was the team’s sixth loss in two ties.
The reverse singles matches proved inconsequential and gave captain Rohit Rajpal a chance to test former national champion Siddharth, who lost 2-6 2-6 to Elias Ymer.
Davis Cup Special: 1966 Inter-Group Final: India vs Brazil in Calcutta. Winner to play Australia for title. Tied 2-2, decider: Ramanathan Krishnan vs Thomas Koch. Krishnan was down 0-30 at 2-5 and had to win the fourth set (Game result: 1-2). What happened next is history! photo.twitter.com/9yM5AVN3j0
— Prithvi (@Eighty7_Fifty8) September 14, 2024
India had the best chance to beat Sweden despite having a depleted squad, but the players failed to convert their opportunities.
India will now compete in the play-offs next year to retain their place in World Group I.
The Indian pair had their first chance in the third game of the first set thanks to Goransson’s serve. Balaji and Ramkumar bagged four consecutive points to earn a break point, but the home team averted the danger.
However, Ramkumar lost his serve in the next game and Bergevi held on to take a commanding 5-2 lead.
Balaji served for the set and held on to it. The home side comfortably sealed the first set with Bergevi holding serve at love.
In the second set, Ramkumar got off to a hot start, holding serve at love.
However, Bergevi surprisingly struggled with his first serve, as he committed two double faults to make it 30-30.
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Sahaj Kothari (born 2014) from Gurugram (moved to Sweden in 2023) is the top ranked… image.twitter.com/hbZceaWCel
— Indian Tennis Daily (ITD) (@IndTennisDaily) September 15, 2024
Ramkumar sensed an opportunity and attacked Bergevi’s second serve, but could only respond with a weak shot to the Swede’s wide crosscourt return. From the net, Goransson was able to easily finish the serve.
Balaji was under pressure in the next game. Serving at deuce, he fired an ace, but Goransson hit a backhand volley winner on the next point to bring the score to deuce again. The Indians withstood the pressure and eventually saved the game.
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Balaji faced the heat again in the seventh game, with both Swedish players finding return winners with attacking shots. Goransson had a break chance with a volley winner from the net.
Ramkumar hit a powerful forehand after a thrilling rally on that break point and later the Indians saved one more, but on the third break point Balaji scored a return.
The home team held on to the lead and won the match on serve in the 10th game. Ramkumar’s casual backhand landed outside the lines on match point.
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