Tags:
Journalism of Courage
India salvaged some pride by winning the two inconsequential reverse singles to reduce their margin of defeat against Uzbekistan to 2-3 in the Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Group I second round tie here on Sunday. Yuki Bhambri stunned Uzbek No.1 Denis Istomin in the first reverse singles of the day before Rohan Bopanna gave India their second win by beating Sarvar Ikramov.
World No.295 Yuki inflicted World No.43 Istomin his first defeat at home in six years,albeit in a dead rubber with a 6-7(1) 7-6(3) 7-6(3) upset win at the Sport Complex Pahlavon.
In the second match,Bopanna,a replacement for Sanam Singh,who was hospitalised for chicken pox after losing to Istomin on the first day,made amends of his doubles loss to defeat Ikramov 6-2 6-7 6-1.
India had already crashed out of Davis Cup Group I after Uzbekistan had taken an unassailable 3-0 lead on Saturday. The seasoned doubles pair of Leander Paes and Rohan Bopanna lost their doubles rubber making the Sundays reverse singles inconsequential.
Spain,US to clash in semis
Holders Spain set up a Davis Cup semi-final clash against the United States when David Ferrer cruised to a 7-5 6-3 6-3 victory over Austrias Juergen Melzer to give the hosts an unassailable 3-1 lead on Sunday.
The tenacious Ferrer was far more consistent than an error-prone Melzer and was rarely under pressure as he secured his second point of the best-of-five tie after thrashing Andreas Haider-Maurer on Friday.
All four ties were still open on the third day of the World Group quarter-finals and John Isner wrapped up victory for the US when he fought past Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-3 7-6 5-7 6-3 to inflict the first French home defeat in six years.
Czech Republic went through on the other side of the draw after Tomas Berdych edged Janko Tipsarevic 7-6 7-6 7-6 in Prague as the home side gained revenge for their last-four defeat to Serbia in 2010.
Their opponents in Septembers semi-final will be Argentina,who are seeking to go one better than their runner-up finishes to Spain in 2008 and 2011. Juan Martin Del Potro was far too strong for Marin Cilic in the opening reverse singles in Buenos Aires,the world number 10 crushing the Croat 6-1 6-2 6-1 for a decisive 3-1 lead and sealing victory with an ace.
