Somdev takes India back into Davis Cup world group

The Indian cricket team was involved in a warm-up game against New Zealand in Potchefstroom, while in Johannesburg a fascinating match of tennis was being played at the Ellis Park Arena indoor courts.

Somdev Devvarman dug into his reserves of energy, determination, and skill to come back from a two-set deficit against his good friend, South Africa's Rik de Voest, who looked well and truly on his way to pushing this Davis Cup encounter into a fifth match.

Devvarman and De Voest share the same coach and are practice partners. Devvarman was expecting a tough match, but neither of the two had played one that was four hours and 44 minutes. Devvarman prevailed 3-6, 6-7 (3), 7-6 (5), 6-2, 6-4.

De Voest, the lower ranked of the two in singles, came out on top in the first two sets in this opening reverse singles match that started at noon. Both countries were vying for their first entry in 11 years into the world group playoffs and it was clear from the start that no one would be willing to give an inch.

The Indian contingent was out in full strength, including veteran Mahesh Bhupathi, whose groin muscle injury forced him and Rohan Bopanna to concede the doubles match while trailing in the third set, but they were a small number compared to the South African fans who numbered more than 1,000 in this indoor stadium.

Heading into the game, the Indians were hoping that Devvarman would polish off Voest. The result, in favour of Devvarman, would convert the final match into a dead rubber and allow Yuki Bhambri a chance to play. Else, Bopanna, suffering from a sore knee for the past few months, would have had to play the final high-pressure game.

After being 0-2 down in the third set and allowing De Voest to dictate terms in the first two, Devvarman clawed back into the game. He took the third 7-6 in the tie-break. To earn the 6-2, 6-4 scoreline in the fourth and fifth set Devvarman had to win the mental and physical game.

The points were hard fought and neither player was ready to give an inch. Line calls were disputed and the crowd got into the act. It was soon clear that Devvarman was the fitter of the two. His experience of playing fiercely competitive college tennis in the United States paid off as he could shut out the crowd and hold his nerve to help India move into the world group after 11 years.

Bhupathi, a veteran of many such battles, termed the result a great "step for Indian tennis". "We have not had many Davis Cup wins outside India and this one came without any contribution from me or Leander [Paes] and in that sense this is one victory and moment to savour," he said.