Yuki Bhambri scores patchy win; India lead 4-0

It was second come-from-behind victory for Yuki as he had erased a two-set deficit in the opening singles.

Yuki also battled cramps towards the end but hung on to eke out the win. Many a times he was in an advantageous position but could not deliver the knockout punch.

At 40-0,he was up by three break points in the 12th game of the second set but took two more to finally draw parity.

After failing to convert his first match point in the final set,he was up 5-0 in the match tie-break but allowed Statham to take five points on the trot to make it 5-5.

Yuki was slow off the blocks,struggling with his first serve. After committing two double faults and netting a forehand,he faced a breakpoint in the very first game but saved it.

Yuki had his chances in the game four but squandered two breakpoints. Unforced errors added to his struggle as he dropped his serve at love to hand a mini 3-2 lead to Statham.

The youngster was even missing easy put aways. Two more double faults coupled with unforced errors put Yuki down by another break point and Statham found himself in a comfortable 5-2 lead.

Yuki saved two set points before conceding the lead in 37 minutes.

The Delhi lad improved slightly in the second set but he was far from his best. The searing heat also started to bother Statham as his movement slowed down.

The set went on serve till 11 games,and Statham was serving to stay. The Kiwi played his most inconsistent game of the match as three unforced errors put Yuki one point away from pushing the issue to third set.

The Indian youngster,positioned 40-0 on Statham’s serve squandered four set points before finally converting the fifth with a forehand winner.

The double fault came to haunt Yuki again as his sixth of the match handed his rival a chance to nose ahead in the decider. He saved it with a deft drop shot but sent a forehand long to let his rival go up 3-2.

Statham was now struggling to cope with the heat. His movement dropped considerably and he was trying to keep the points short.

Yuki too was struggling to move as he suffered cramps and let the decider go to the full distance.

Yuki Bhambri was not focussed: captain Misra

Yuki Bhambri’s unconvincing win over New Zealand’s Jose Statham has left much to be desired as India’s non-playing captain,S P Misra,felt that the country’s best singles player did not look focussed in the fourth rubber of the Davis Cup relegation play-off tie.

A profligate Yuki squandered a number of chances in the Asia/Oceania Group I match,which lasted two hours and 41 minutes at the CLTA grounds here today.

“Strangely,he was not focussed. He was playing well only in patches,” Misra said after India whitewashed the Kiwis 5-0.

However,he was not too worried with inconsistency of the 20-year old,and hoped that he would come back strongly.

“He looked solid against Uzbekistan. May be mentally,being the number one player,troubled him. But he will come around,I am sure.”

Misra was pleased with the overall outcome.

“The boys had prepared well. They were focussed on the job. They performed well in the tie,” he said.

The conditions were expected to suit the Indian squad but the hosts struggled to cope with the hot weather. Yuki struggled in today’s match as he suffered cramps before completing a 2-6 7-5 7-6(5) win.

Misra felt the conditions were tough but his players handled it better than the Kiwis.

Sanam Singh,who came out all guns blazing by scoring India’s first straight set win,said,”Yuki was shaky on day one but gave us a good start. These are not easy conditions. And you can’t take away today’s win from Yuki.”

Asked how he moves so fast on the court,he quipped,”I am smaller in the side.” Talking about his match,Sanam said,”I am pretty happy. I had my chances in the first set. I opened up in the second. I am satisfied.”

The diminutive local lad said the conditions have become more challenging at the CLTA.

“I was born and brought up here. It’s hotter than ever,specially in September. More than the heat,it is humidity.”

Sanam is still struggling to find a sponsor.

“I had signed up with Globosport but could not get any sponsor. I am on my own. The government help during the Olympics helped me a lot,” he said.

Yuki said he was not pleased with the way he played as had to dig deep into his resources for the win.

“I won’t say I am happy but glad that India won the tie. It’s certainly not the best tennis that I have played.”

Coach Nandan Bal,however,backed Yuki and said his fitness stood him in good stead.

“He is fit. If anyone says Yuki is unfit,I will take an exception to that. He has put on 10kgs in the last two years and it’s all muscles. Every player goes through this. I have seen him working in the gym. He is very committed,” he said.