Bengaluru: On a grey Monday morning, someone could have done India’s No. 2 tennis singles player Yuki Bhambri, a favour by waking him up from his slumber. The 22-year-old talented Indian, ranked 151st in the world, showed neither spirit nor nimble feet to counter his Bollettieri Academy-mate Filp Krajinovic, going down 3-6, 4-6, 4-6 as India’s Davis Cup World Group Play-Off campaign ended in a 2-3 loss to 2010 world champions Serbia at the Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association Centre Court.
The result meant the hosts will fight it out in Asia/Oceania zone the next season.
After Somdev Devvarman played out of his skin against Dusan Lajovic in the first reverse singles on Sunday to set up a do-or-die fifth rubber for Yuki, the Delhi boy, who was playing his first live fifth match didn’t show the stomach for fight.
On Sunday. Yuki was down 3-6, 4-all before rain came down hard twice, forcing the match to be resumed on Monday at noon.
If one thought Yuki would come back rejuvenated, the former junior world no.1 was anything but effective on the court.
Yuki was, however, spot-on with his self-assessment, “I made more mistakes in the last two days than I have in the last 10 years.”
Yuki was down a break point in the ninth game, the first after resumption, when his edgy forehand struck the net, giving Krajinovic the opportunity to serve for the set, which the Serbian did before saving two breakpoints in the ensuing tenth to take a two-set advantage.
Even as Yuki tried to slow down his pace and took time to serve, the Serb looked like he was in a hurry to take some much deserved rest before catching the late night flight out of the city.
In the third set, Krajinovic broke Yuki in the opening game. Yuki finally held serve in the third game to open his tally. The 22-year-old returned the favour, holding serve to love.
Unlike Somdev, who on Saturday night fed-off the undying support of his team-mates and the crowd, Yuki hardly gave the bench a look as he held on to two breakpoints to hold serve in the fifth.
The fact that a sparse 200-odd fans screamed, ‘Come on Yuki,’ had no effect as he continued to err on his forehand.
Leading 15-40, with Krajinovic serving for the tie at 5-4, Yuki’s forehand let him down again as he hit one way too long to bring the day’s proceedings to an end in 50 minutes.
Yuki trudged back to the muted Indian camp even as the Serbians erupted in joy as they retained their berth in the World Group of elite 16 nations.
An elated Krajinovic said, “I didn’t sleep well at all (on Sunday night).It wasn’t easy mentally. I wasn’t happy that the match was put off for Monday because I already have my tickets for today, but you know you have to finish. Today wasn’t an easy match. I came back from many 0-30 games on my serve, but in the end I was able to hold it together.”
