New Delhi: Bengaluru on Sunday witnessed a dramatic Davis Cup night as India stunned world No. 6 and 2024 Davis Cup runners-up Netherlands in the first round of the qualifiers, powered by a remarkable performance from college student Dhakshineswar Suresh.
India will next travel to face the Korea Republic away in September, with a place in the season-ending Davis Cup Final 8 in Bologna on the line.
Suresh emerged as the standout figure of the tie, playing a decisive role in all three of India’s points, the official daviscup.com reported. The World No. 457 first put India on the board on Saturday, defeating the Dutch team’s highest-ranked player, Jesper De Jong, in singles under the lights.
On Sunday, Suresh returned to court alongside Yuki Bhambri for the doubles, facing David Pel and Sander Arends. Playing together for the first time, the Indian pair delivered an inspired display, edging past the Dutch combination 7-6(0), 3-6, 7-6(1) after three hours. The victory handed India the lead in the tie for the first time.
India needed a win in the first reverse singles to seal the contest, but De Jong bounced back to defeat Sumit Nagal 5-7, 6-1, 6-4 and restore parity. Nagal competed despite a grade two tear in his right thigh, an effort that proved crucial as it allowed Suresh time to recover before the decider.
Suresh then returned for the final singles against Guy Den Ouden. The Dutchman served strongly, firing 15 aces and not facing a single break point, but it was the Indian who struck first. Suresh broke serve in the seventh game of the opening set and held to love to take control as the home crowd intensified the atmosphere.
The second set was tightly contested. Den Ouden survived a tense fifth game by saving two break points, and neither player could gain separation as the match moved into a tie-break. Den Ouden went ahead 3-1, but Suresh responded with four consecutive points. He sealed a famous 6-4, 7-6(4) victory with an inside-out forehand, before collapsing to the court in celebration.
With the feat, Suresh became the first Indian since Leander Paes in 2004 to win three matches in a single Davis Cup tie. The result also marked India’s deepest run in the World Cup of Tennis since their last-16 exit against defending champions Serbia 15 years ago.
