Bopanna beats Gabashvili in the 5th Rubber
(Davis Cup World Group I round tie, Russia)

MONDAY 08, MAR 2010.

Rohan Bopanna pulled one back, as he beat Teimuraz Gabashvili 7-6 (5), 6-4 in the dead fifth rubber, after Mikhail Youzhny had sealed the tie 3-1 for Russia with a clinical 6-2, 6-1, 6-3 victory over Somdev Devvarman in the Davis Cup World group first round tennis encounter on Sunday.

Bopanna's effort underlined the point that India could have made a better fight of it against the mighty Russians on their home soil, had Devvarman grabbed his chances in the opening rubber, after having dictated terms for the better part of the first two sets against Igor Kunitsyn in the first singles, a last minute replacement for Igor Andreev.

The 3-2 score was a fair indication of the relative strength of the two teams, especially in the absence of world No.6 Nikolay Davydenko from the Russian ranks.

India will fight to stay in the World group in the play-off in September, while Russia will wait for the winner of the match between Argentina and Sweden, for its quarterfinals.