NEW DELHI: Indian tennis veteran Rohan Bopanna bid farewell to his Davis Cup career in a memorable fashion, partnering with Yuki Bhambri to secure a comfortable straight-set victory.
This win, along with Sumit Nagal's triumph in the reverse singles, allowed India to clinch the World Group II tie against Morocco with a final score of 3-1 in Lucknow on Sunday.
In their 33rd and final tie, the 43-year-old Bopanna and Bhambri teamed up to swiftly defeat Elliot Benchetrit and Younes Lalami Laaroussi with a score of 6-2, 6-1. The match lasted just one hour and 11 minutes at the Mini Stadium.
India's top singles player, Nagal, continued the winning streak by defeating Yassine Dlimi in the first reverse singles match with a score of 6-3, 6-3. This victory secured the tie for the Indian team. Rookie player Digvijay Pratap Singh was set to make his Davis Cup debut in the inconsequential fifth rubber.
Nagal's performance marked only the second time he had won both of his singles matches in a Davis Cup tie, with the previous occurrence happening against Pakistan in 2019 in Kazakhstan. Nagal made early breaks in both sets, keeping Dlimi on the defensive.
With this victory, India progressed to next year's World Group I play-offs, a significant achievement for the team.
An emotional moment followed the match as Bopanna rested his India-shirt on the court, symbolising the conclusion of his illustrious Davis Cup career, which included 50 matches in 33 ties.
Bopanna won 23 rubbers, including 13 in doubles. His family and friends, numbering around 50, were present in Lucknow to witness his final Davis Cup appearance, wearing T-shirts featuring a waving Indian tricolor with Bopanna's image printed on them.
Bopanna's gesture of appreciation and gratitude toward the spectators and his loved ones added a poignant touch to the occasion.
Younes could not hold his serve even once in the match while the Indians faced just one breakpoint when Bhambri served and saved that too.
The Indians drew the first blood when they broke Younes. On a Bhambri backhand return at 30-15, Younes netted the volley. Bhambri smashed a volley winner on Younes' return to earn the first breakpoint.
Benchetrit went for an angled volley winner on a Bhambri return but the ball went out as Indians led 3-1. Bopanna came out serving the next game at love to make it 4-1.
Younes' serve came under attack once again in game eight. Bopanna found a winner at 15-15 and the Morocco player served a double fault to be down by two break points.
Yuki converted the set point with a volley winner on a feeble Younes return. The first set ended in a jiffy, just 34 minutes as the Indians lost five points on their serve.
Bopanna's big serve was at work in the second set too as he began the proceedings with a comfortable hold but Bhambri's serve came under pressure in the third game when at 30-all, his half-volley pick up flew out of the court.
The Indians, though, saved the break point.
Younes was up 40-0 on his serve in game four but lost his way, serving double fault and making a lot of unforced errors to lose his serve for the third time in the match.
Bhambri served out the match.
(With PTI inputs)
