India make strong opening statement

Bengaluru, April 7
Ramkumar Ramanathan and Prajnesh Gunneswaran handed India a 2-0 lead over Uzbekistan as they staved off a spirited challenge in their respective singles in the Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Group I tie here today. In the first match, 267th ranked Ramanathan overcame Temur Ismailov 6-2 5-7 6-2 7-5, while debutant Gunneswaran, ranked 187, outwitted Sanjar Fayziev 7-5 3-6 6-3 6-4.
To his credit, Ismailov made life difficult for the Indian despite suffering cramps in his right hamstring but Ramanathan managed to wrap up the match.
Ramanathan dominated the proceedings before a bout of double faults handed Ismailov a small opening, which the Uzbek grabbed with both hands to make a match of it. The Indian sealed the opening set in a jiffy and was leading 4-3 in the second when he found himself down 0-40. He saved two breakpoints but netted a backhand on the third to allow Ismailov stay alive. The Uzbek played freely while Ramanathan put himself under pressure to finish the job quickly. The nerves got to Ramanathan and, in utter desperation, he squandered four set points and was eventually broken in the 12th game as Ismailov went on to take the set.
The Uzbek had snatched the momentum but suffered cramps in his right leg in the third set, making the job of the Indian easy. Ramanathan ran away with the third set as Ismailov’s restricted movements gave him easy points. Ismailov, however, recovered remarkably after a medical timeout and was battle-ready for the fourth set. The do stayed neck and neck in this set and were tied 5-5 after a gruelling battle. Two unforced errors by the Uzbek gave Ramanathan three break points. He converted the third when Ismailov buried a return into the net. The Indian’s unforced errors continued as twice he sent down double faults on match points. He though sealed the match with a forehand volley winner.
Gunneswaran sails
In the second singles of the day, Gunneswaran won the first, third and fourth set. In the second set, Fayziev raised his game and levelled the match at 1-1.
Fayziev led the third set 3-1 as Gunneswaran committed some silly errors. The Indian, however, soon got his act together and raced past the Uzbek to pocket the set. In the fourth set, the Indian looked in control throughout and wrapped up the set 6-4 to give India a 2-0 lead in the tie.