New Delhi: India took an unassailable 3-0 lead against Togo in their Davis Cup play-off tie after N Sriram Balaji and debutant Rithvik Choudary Bollipalli won their doubles contest on Sunday.
Balaji and Bollipalli defeated M’lapa Tingou Akomolo and Hod’abalo Isak Padio 6-2,6-1 in 57 minutes at the DLTA Complex in the Capital. India had already taken a 2-0 after winning their first leg singles legs.
Togo didn’t field Thomas Setodji with M’lapa Tingou Akomolo with an arm injury but their new pair couldn’t hold their serve even once in the match.
Balaji was impressive and he lost only one point on his serve during the contest and he and Bollipalli had an easy outing, having won a Challenger title as as a pair last year.
Cakewalk
Whie Balaji had it easy on his serve, Bollipalli had to work hard after being 30-all in his first service game of his first match. But once he managed to hold on to his serve, it was pretty straightforward for Balaji and Bollipalli.
India broke through Akmolo’s serve in the first game to take a 3-1 lead after which Balaji held on to his serve as the home team’s advantage increased to 4-1.
Bollipalli began to feel more confident on the court with each passing minute to put pressure on Akmolo to hold his serve. Akmolo double faulted twice before Bollipalli extended India’s lead with a fine overhead volley.
They then kept hold of their serve to close out the first set and broke early in the second. It eliminated remote possibility of the visiting team fighting back into the contest.
Akmolo was under constant duress to win his service games, which reflected when he sent a routine forehand wide to be down a breakpoint. India quickly raced to a 4-1 lead.
Padio failed to hold on to his serve that allowed Bollipalli to serve out the match with ease.
N Sriram Balaji and Rithvik Choudary Bollipalli won their doubles match as India took an unassailable 3-0 lead against Togo in their Davis Cup play-off tie on Sunday. Tennis Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
