India lost its world group playoff tie against Serbia 3-0, as Rohan Bopanna and Saketh Myneni went down in straight sets (6-7, 2-6, 6-7) to Serbia's Danilo Petrovic and Nikola Milovejic.
On Friday, Ramkumar Ramanathan to Laslo Djere and Prajnesh Gunneswaran lost in straight sets to Dusan Lajovic. Read the report here .
They will play two dead rubber singles matches on Sunday. Serbia lost only one set in its first three matches.
Read the preview of the tie which is being played over three days, from September 14 to 16. There is nothing to be lost in the tie as the teams have already secured a spot in the qualifying round of the revamped Davis Cup in 2019. So the teams can play freely irrespective of the result. Read more about the new Davis Cup format here .
Key highlights:
9:00pm: And that's it for India in the tie. Ramkumar Ramanathan and Prajnesh Gunneswaran will play two dead rubbers tomorrow as Serbia won its first three matches, losing only one set in the process.
8:58pm: SERBIA WINS! What a match from Petrovic and Milovejic, especially in the thrid set! Going 2-5 down after conceding two early breaks, they fought back to win the set 7-4 in the tie-breaker, and win the match 7-6, 6-2, 7-6.
8:58pm: Brilliant block at the net from Petrovic and MATCH POINT!
8:55pm: Serbia is in the lead. 5-4.
8:54pm: A double fault from Saketh brings Serbia level at 2-2.
8:52pm: India starts off the tiebreaker well, winning both the points from the first two serves. 2-0 to India.
8:51pm: And we go into the second tiebreaker of the match. Bopanna and Saketh will be kicking themselves if they end up letting this slip, having been 5-2 up in the set.
8:48pm: India holds serve and leads 6-5 in the third set. Serbia will serve now.
8:46pm: This is great stuff from Petrovic and Milovejic! From conceding two breaks and being 2-5 down, Serbia has fought its way back into the set. 5-5 now. India, meanwhile, has found it hard to keep the ball on the court or get it across the net.
8:45pm: Hold on! Bopanna is sorting some issues out with the umpire. It's hard to decipher what it is but it's a long discussion.
8:40pm: And Serbia breaks India! Petrovic and Milovejic are finding their way back into the game. And in style! How many chances can India afford to waste? 4-5. Milovejic to serve.
8:40pm: Bopanna's gets to a half-volley but nets it giving Serbia another break point.
8:38pm: Danilo Petrovic's return is straight at Saketh who somehow manages to send the ball over the net. Deuce.
8:36pm: Petrovic plays a cross-court forehand that just stays in, surprising the Indian duo. Right after that, Bopanna's return goes long and Serbia is on a break point.
8:35pm: Serbia fights back with their serves to win the game. The score is 5-3 to India. India is serving for the set.
8:32pm: Bopanna is quick and alert at the net and catches Petrovic off guard with a block. India is 30-0 up with a chance to break Serbia to win the set.
8:30pm: India saves a break point and is 5-2 up. So far, the set is following the exact script as the second set. Only India is the protagonist this time.
8:26pm: And India breaks for the first time in the match. Rohan Bopanna and Saketh Myneni race to a 4-2 lead in the third set.
8:24pm: First break point of the match for India.
8:20pm: India holds serve again to go 3-2 up in the set.
8:17pm: With a delightful backhand slice at the net, Petrovic wins the game for Serbia and they're level at 2-2 in the third set.
8:14pm: India leads 2-1 in the third set.
8:12pm: It's funny how Bopanna is almost on his knees now during Saketh's serves. Well, it's only natural after getting hit by a ball travelling at almost 200 km/hr.
8:11pm: Saketh's forehand return goes long and Serbia equals the set at 1-1.
8:06pm: India saves 3 break points in the first game of the third set. It looked like India would start off by conceding another break, but Bopanna was able to hold his serve. 1-0 to India. That's the first time India's been in the lead this match.
8:01pm: Game and set to Serbia ! Petrovic and Milovejic win the second set 6-2.
7:58pm: Serbia breaks for the second time in the set! Petrovic and Milovejic go 5-2 up. Bopanna and Saketh are in trouble.
7:55pm: Another break point for Serbia. Their 6th of the game, while India has had none. India saves it,but Milovejic brings Serbia to its its 7th break point right after that.
7:53pm: Petrovic and Milovejic are holding firm and India hasn't been given one chance to crawl back into the match. 4-2 to Serbia in the second set.
7:48pm: Bopanna and Saketh came close to conceding another break here. They saved one break point this game and hold on to win the game. 3-2.
7:43pm: Serbia holds serve easily again to go 3-1 up in the second set. India has been poor on the return today. So finding a break might be hard.
7:40pm: India trails 2-1 in the second set now and needs to find a break somewhere to pull the game back level.
7:37pm: Serbia holds serve to 2-0 up.
7:33pm: That's the first break of the match. India concedes a break and Serbia leads 1-0 in the second set.
7:28pm: And Serbia wins the first set 7-6. (7-5 in the tiebreaker).
7:26pm: Saketh nets it and Serbia is on set point. 6-4
7:24pm: India pulls in back level to 3-3 in the tiebreaker.
7:22pm: India is 2-1 down in the tiebreaker and its Serbia's turn to serve.
7:20pm: Game to India and we're into the tiebreaker!
7:17pm: Bopanna's return just misses the mark and Serbia wins the game. 6-5 to Serbia.
7:15pm: At 5-5, the match looks even right now. Both teams have been susceptible to unforced errors and Serbia may be only marginally better in that it has won 32 points to India's 27 so far.
7:12pm: We're nine games down in the first set and still no breaks. Serbia has come close on one occassion but it's 5-4 now. Bopanna to serve.
7:10pm: Bopanna and Saketh are able to hold serve again, despite some scares. 4-4.
7:08pm: Wow that could hurt! Saketh's serve hits a crouching Bopanna on the back. Petrovic plays a brilliant return on the next serve and it's deuce.
7:07pm: India's play at the net is frustrating to watch. Bopanna and Saketh have made 15 unforced errors so far.
7:05pm: Petrovic's swerving serve just stays inside the line as Serbia wins the game. Still no breaks in this match yet and there's only been one break point. 4-3
7:01pm: A double fault from Rohan Bopanna and an unforced error from Saketh almost turned out to be costly, but India calmly negotiated the game from deuce to win it and level the set at 3-3.
6:58pm: India nets two service returns and with Milovejic's ace, Serbia easily wins the game, going up 3-2 in the set.
6:56pm: Petrovic is unable to return Saketh serve and India saves a break point to win the game. 2-2.
6:55pm: Unforced errors are costing India which was 30-0 up and goes 40-30 down in the fourth game. Serbia on the first break point.
6:50pm: Bopanna attacks at the net but is unable to control it and it goes long. Serbia holds serve and leads 2-1.
6:49pm: And with two winners, India equals the set at 1-1.
6:47pm: Serbia hold serve to win the first game and is into the lead in the first set. 1-0. Rohan Bopanna gets ready to serve the second game.
6:45pm: And we're underway. Serbia will serve first.
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