India storm into play-offs

Busan (Korea): The Indian Davis Cup team entered the World Group play-offs after notching up a historic away triumph over Korea following Somdev Devvarman’s win over Yong-Kyu Lim in the reverse singles of the Group I Asia/Oceania second round tie here on Sunday. 

Somdev prevailed 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 6-1 in the first reverse singles to make the overall scoreline 3-1 in favour of India, rendering the second reverse singles inconsequential leading to its cancellation.

It was another one of those trademark fighting efforts by Somdev, who had endured a tough contest on the opening day as well.

 

Somdev’s never-say-die-attitude was once again on display against Korea’s numero uno singles player, who wilted after putting up a good show in the first two sets.

 

India have now improved their overall head-to-head record against Korea to 4-6. The last time the two teams played was in 2013 when the Koreans beat India 4-1 in New Delhi in the absence of top players, who boycotted the tie.

Great Britain shocked 

 

Italy staged a superb fightback on Sunday to beat Britain in the Davis Cup quarterfinals as Fabio Fognini shocked Andy Murray, and Andreas Seppi eased past James Ward in the decisive fifth match.

 

After securing back-to-back wins over Italy on Saturday for a 2-1 lead, Britain required one victory to reach their first Davis Cup semifinal since 1981, but Fognini was in inspired form on the Naples clay as he cruised past Murray 6-3, 6-3, 6-4.

 

With the scores level at 2-2, it was left to the world number 161 Ward to claim an unlikely victory, but he went down in straight sets to Seppi 6-4, 6-3, 6-4.

 

World number 13 Fognini, who has won all three of his career ATP singles titles on clay in the last nine months, punished Murray's sloppy ser

 

Seppi, world number 34, was rarely troubled in the decisive fifth rubber by his lowly-ranked opponent and, after taking the first two sets in simple fashion, he comfortably saw out the third to give Italy a 3-2 victory.

 

Meanwhile, in Tokyo, Czech Republic continued their dominance over Japan by blanking the home side 5-0. After Lukas Rosol wrapped up his match against Yasutaka Uchiyama 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, Jiri Vesely beat Taro Daniel 4-6, 4-6 to win the contst 5-0.

 

Results: At Tokyo: Japan lt to Czech Republic 0-5 (Yasutaka Uchiyama lt to Lukas Rosol 3-6, 6-3, 4-6; Taro Daniel lt to Jiri Vesely 4-6, 4-6); At Naples: Italy bt Great Britain 3-2 (Andreas Seppi bt James Ward 6-4, 6-3, 6-4; Fabio Fognini bt Andy Murray 6-3, 6-3, 6-4).