In a disappointing turn of events, India suffered their sixth consecutive defeat against Sweden in the Davis Cup World Group I tie, losing 4-0. The match, held in Stockholm, saw the Indian team struggle to find their footing against a dominant Swedish side.
Davis Cup: India’s loss against Sweden
The tie began with high hopes for the Indian team, but the initial singles matches set a challenging tone. Ramkumar Ramanathan faced Leo Borg, the son of tennis legend Bjorn Borg, in the first singles match. Despite a valiant effort, Ramanathan lost 3-6, 4-6, giving Sweden an early lead.
In the second singles match, N Sriram Balaji took on Elias Ymer. Balaji, known for his resilience, couldn’t match Ymer’s aggressive play and went down 4-6, 2-6. With these losses, India found themselves in a precarious position, needing to win the doubles match to stay alive in the tie.
The Crucial Doubles Match
The doubles match was crucial for India’s chances, with the pair of Ramkumar Ramanathan and N Sriram Balaji taking on Sweden’s Filip Bergevi and Andre Goransson. The Indian duo started strong, showing promise in the early games. However, the Swedish pair quickly found their rhythm, breaking Ramkumar’s serve and taking the first set 6-3.
The second set saw a similar pattern, with Balaji and Ramkumar struggling to hold their serves under pressure. Despite saving multiple breakpoints, the Indian pair eventually conceded the set 4-6, giving Sweden an unassailable 3-0 lead in the tie.
The Final Singles Match
With the tie already decided, the final singles match saw Siddharth Vishwakarma replace Ramkumar Ramanathan to face Elias Ymer. Vishwakarma, making his Davis Cup debut, found himself under immense pressure. Ymer, playing with confidence, broke Vishwakarma’s serve early and dominated the match, winning 6-2, 6-2.
India’s performance in the Davis Cup tie against Sweden highlighted several areas of concern. The absence of top players like Yuki Bhambri and Sumit Nagal was felt deeply, as the team struggled to compete against a well-prepared Swedish side.
Ramkumar Ramanathan and N Sriram Balaji, despite their experience, couldn’t deliver the crucial wins needed to keep India in the tie. The doubles match, which was seen as India’s best chance to turn the tide, ended in disappointment as the Swedish pair outplayed the Indian duo in key moments.
India went down 0-4 to Sweden as Siddharth Viswakarma lost his Singles match in the Dead Rubber tie in the Davis Cup, World Group 1.❌#Tennis #SKIndianSports #DavisCup2024 pic.twitter.com/U3lFE5VsI2
— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) September 15, 2024
Sweden’s Dominance
Sweden’s performance was marked by consistency and strategic play. Leo Borg and Elias Ymer showcased their potential, with Ymer winning both his singles matches convincingly. The doubles pair of Bergevi and Goransson demonstrated excellent coordination and resilience, securing the tie for Sweden.
The Road Ahead for India
With this defeat, India will now head to the World Group I Play-offs, scheduled for next year. The team will need to regroup and address the weaknesses exposed in this tie. The absence of key players due to injuries and other commitments has been a recurring issue, and the team management will need to ensure a stronger lineup for future ties.
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