The Hindu : Sport / Tennis : Junior Davis Cup: India gets off to brilliant start

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Thursday, Sep 30, 2004

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Junior Davis Cup: India gets off to brilliant start

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 29 . The Indian boys got off to a splendid start winning their first two matches 3-0 each against Tunisia and Morocco in the league phase of the Junior Davis Cup final in Barcelona.

In a competition for the top 16 countries of the world in the under-16 age group, the Asia-Oceania zone champion India asserted itself through Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan, Rupesh Roy and Sanam Singh.

With Sanam restricted to doubles because of an injury on the back of his palm, it was left to Jeevan and Rupesh to handle the singles challenge and they did very well to project a positive image of the sixth-seeded India.

The Indian boys got off to a healthy start as they beat Tunisia 3-0 in the first league match in group `II' on Tuesday. Jeevan provided a flying start as he beat Slah Mbarek for the loss of one game. The Indian No.1 Rupesh Roy had some trouble in the first set, but settled down to beat Wael Kilani 6-7 (4), 6-0, 6-3 in the second match.

India was ruthless in its second match against Morocco on Wednesday. Both Jeevan and Rupesh won tough matches, in straight sets to emphasise the Indian team's dominance.

"Jeevan played really solid as usual and got off to a good start. Rupesh got off to a terrible start and was down 2-5 and also a set-point down. He is a real fighter and very competitive. He got his act together and played confidently to win in straight sets,'' said the Indian coach Sandeep Kirtane after India's match against Morocco.

India will play the fourth-seeded Czech Republic in the last league match, and it will be a veritable quarterfinal as the winner will make it to the semifinals.

"The Czech are a good team and it should be a very interesting tie. Our boys are playing well and are ready to give it their best shot,'' said Sandeep.

The results: India beat Morocco 3-0 (Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan bt Mehdi Benhamou 7-5, 6-4; Rupesh Roy bt Reda El Amrani 7-5, 7-6 (7-5); Jeevan and Sanam Singh bt Mehdi Benhamou and Ayoub Benamar 6-3, 6-2).

India beat Tunisia 3-0 (Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan bt Slah Mbarek 6-1, 6-0; Rupesh Roy bt Wael Kilani 6-7 (4), 6-0, 6-3; Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan and Sanam Singh bt Maher Boughnimi and Wael Kilani 6-3, 6-2).

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