Russia makes it 2-0 on the opening day
(Davis Cup World Group I round tie, Russia)

SATURDAY 06, MAR 2010.

Russia made it 2-0 on the opening day of the Davis Cup World Group first round tennis encounter.

India's chances had brightened when the 38th ranked Igor Andreev had pulled out with a knee injury, after having been drawn to play Devvarman in the first rubber. Ironically, Andreev had himself replaced world No.6 Nikolay Davidenko in the original team.

The way the 128th ranked Devvarman opened the challenge, winning the first set in an extended tie-break and had a break point to go up 4-0 in the second set, it looked as if the Russians had a match on their hands.

However, Igor Kunitsyn perspired to a 6-7(6), 7-6(4), 6-3, 6-4 victory over Devvarman to put Russia 1-0 up. There was much less drama when Mikhail Youzhny, fresh from making the finals at Rotterdam and Dubai in recent weeks, proved too hot for Rohan Bopanna to handle as he raced to a 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 victory.

Once the 25-year-old Devvarman lost the grip over the proceedings, he knew that it was difficult to subdue the Russian, but gamely fought till the end.

It was a golden chance missed for Devvarman, who had won both his singles matches in the World Group play-off tie against South Africa last September in Johannesburg.

India will look up to its world class pair of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi to win the first rubber on Saturday.