Punjab Newsline,Sports :
Dhakshineswar Suresh Shines as India Defeat World No. 6 Team; Rishabh Pant Congratulates
The Indian men’s tennis team registered a remarkable victory over world No. 6 Netherlands in the Davis Cup Qualifiers 1st Round held in Bengaluru, securing a place in the second round scheduled for September. With this win, India moved a step closer to qualifying for the elite eight-team Davis Cup Finals.
Dhakshineswar Suresh emerged as the hero of the tie, playing a decisive role in both singles and doubles. On Saturday, Suresh delivered a crucial win against the Netherlands’ highest-ranked player, Jesper De Jong, giving India an early advantage. On Sunday, he partnered with Yuki Bhambri in the doubles match against David Pel and Sander Arends.
Despite playing together for the first time, the Indian duo displayed exceptional coordination and resilience, clinching a thrilling 7-6(0), 3-6, 7-6(1) victory after a gruelling three-hour contest. The win gave India the edge in the tie and boosted the team’s confidence.
In the reverse singles, Sumit Nagal fought bravely despite suffering from a grade two tear in his right thigh. However, he went down 5-7, 6-1, 6-4 against Jesper De Jong, allowing the Netherlands to level the tie. Nagal’s courageous effort proved vital as it bought crucial recovery time for his teammate ahead of the deciding match.
In the final and decisive encounter, world No. 457 Suresh once again rose to the occasion. He delivered under pressure to secure the win against Guy Den Ouden, sealing India’s qualification for the next round.
With this feat, Suresh became the first Indian since Leander Paes in 2004 to win three matches in a single Davis Cup tie. The victory marks one of India’s most significant achievements in the tournament in the past 15 years. Indian cricketer Rishabh Pant also congratulated the team, calling it a big win for Indian tennis.