Somdev's defeat results in India's ouster from World Group

SPORT DAVIS LD IND

Moscow, Mar 7 (PTI) India were Sunday ousted from the
elite World Group of Davis Cup following Somdev Devvarman's
crushing defeat against Mikhail Youzhny as the visitors lost
the first round tie 2-3 to Russia here.

Russia have progressed to the quarter-finals while India
would yet again strive in the play-offs to re-enter the
16-team World Group.
India were playing in the World Group for the first time
since their 1998 appearance.
For India, everything depended on Somdev's first reverse
singles but the gritty Indian was no match to sheer class of
world number 13 Youzhny.
In a must win situation, Somdev was outclassed 2-6 1-6
3-6, which ended India's hopes and later Rohan Bopnna recorded
a consolation 7-6(5) 6-4 win over Teimuraz Gabashvili in the
dead fifth rubber.
In complete contrast to India's play-off tie against
South Africa where they won all the singles matches, India
lost all the singles match in this tie.
Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi saved India a whitewash
by winning the doubles rubber against Igor Kunitsyn and
Gabashvili on Saturday.
Russia have levelled the head-to-head scores 2-2 between
the two nations.
After taking a decisive 3-1 lead, the hosts pitted
Gabashivili in the inconsequential rubber in place of Kunitsyn
and ended the tie on a losing note. More PTI AT
MYR


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