Davis Cup: India slips into World Group 2 after losing 1-3 to Denmark
India slumped to World Group II after going down 1-3 to hosts Denmark in their Davis Cup World Group Play-off tie as Sumit Nagal lost the reverse singles to world No. 9 Holger Rune here on Saturday. Nagal had equalized on Friday by winning the first singles. But he lost 5–7 3–6 to Rooney in reverse singles in 37 minutes. Earlier, the Indian pair of Rohan Bopanna and Yuki Bhambri suffered a straight sets loss to world number nine Holger Rune and Johannes Ingildsen in their doubles match, leaving India trailing 1-2 on Saturday.
The Danish pair thrashed the Indians 6-2 6-4 in just 65 minutes in which Roone’s presence was crucial. Earlier, India’s number one player Sumit Nagal made India come back after trailing in the second singles match. In the first match, Rooney beat Yuki Bhambri for 6. 2, 6. beat by 2. Yuki lost in 58 minutes against a tough opponent. India’s number one player Nagal defeated August Holmgren 4.0 in a match that lasted two hours and 27 minutes. 6, 6. 3, 6. Beaten by 4. Ranked 506 in the world, Nagal lost the first set against an opponent ranked 484. Coming back in the second set, he won 5. 2 lead and took the set in the ninth game to take the match to a deciding set. In the deciding set, he won by maintaining his rhythm.
