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Journalism of Courage
Indian tennis isnt unfamiliar with adrenaline-fuelled epic Davis Cup battles,but Sunday was special. Somdev Devvarmans 3-6 6-7 3 7-6 5 6-2 6-4 victory over Rik de Voest in the first reverse singles didnt just give India a 3-1 winning lead over South Africa,it also ended an 11-year-old wait to return to the elite World Group.
This was a game that has taken several decades to come by and will be remembered for years to follow. The big moment came when Somdev celebrated his 4-hour 44-minute stay on court with a leap and a triumphant punch towards the excited Indian bench,but even the length of his marathon edge-of-the-seat effort would pale in the context of its significance for Indian tennis.
Setting the record straight
Further back in history,this Davis Cup tie was a much awaited re-match for the locals here. The last time they were drawn to play each other way back in 1974 the Davis Cup final,no less complications of the apartheid era saw India pulling out. South Africans,therefore,still feel their only Davis Cup title was hollow and wanted to set the record straight this time,but that wasnt to be.
More interestingly,the men battling on court for their respective countries in the crucial game South Africa havent qualified for the World Group for 11 years either happen be the best of friends,sharing a coach and court space during training.
Somdev and de Voest have spent hours hitting balls in the presence of coach Scot McCain but never faced off in any competition. As luck would have it,both ended up playing the longest match of their careers today.
He was spot on with his tactics in the early part of the game. We know each other very well. Actually,for the next three weeks me and Rik will be together, said Somdev,who seemed to be outsmarted by his friend early on. It seemed a lost cause for the India No 1 as he went down 6-3 7-6 2-0,failing to read his opponents chip and charge to the net tactics. But thats when the Indian bench with Bhupathi as the loudest cheerleader conveyed to Somdev that he needed to just hang-in there,stretch the game to five sets,and his fitness would do the rest.
The post-win press conference by Indias hero was familiar he spoke about the Davis Cup atmosphere,the tri-colour and the words of encouragement from the bench.
This win is right up there. We havent had many Davis Cup wins outside India and this being a play-off game with no contribution from me and Leander means its really big. Possibly,one of the best for me, said Bhupathi. That ends the debate about the importance of September 20,2009 in the annals of Indian tennis.
Yuki makes it 4-1
Yuki Bhambri made a memorable debut in the Cup later in the day,scoring an emphatic 3-6 6-3 6-4 over Izak Van der Merwe in the dead fifth rubber of the play-off tie,which India won by a comprehensive 4-1 margin.
