India defeat Pakistan to triumph in Davis Cup World Group I playoff tie

Staff Report

 ISLAMABAD: India thumped Pakistan to win the World Group I playoff tie in the Davis Cup’s doubles category in Islamabad on Sunday. The Men in Blue, courtesy of Saketh Myneni and Yuki Myneni, emerged victorious after beating the national side’s pair of Aqeel Khan and Muzammil Murtaza 3-0 with 6-2, 6(7)-6(5). Earlier on Saturday in the singles, Khan lost in straight sets, 7-5 6-3, against Sriram Balaji while Ramkumar Ramanathan defeated Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi 6-7(3) 7-6(4) 6-0 to provide his side with a bright start. “This will go down as a special win for me given we are in Pakistan. It is not easy to win away. Aisam slowed down the game while serving. It was not easy but I was all pumped up,” Ramanathan stated after a win over Aisam. The last tie between the two countries took place in neutral Kazakhstan in 2014 with India winning 4-0. “The Indian team just reaching Pakistan is already a win for me,” Aisam had said earlier. “I’m happy and proud to be a part of it — that tennis might play a role in mending the ties with India,” he noted. Meanwhile, Indian captain Zeeshan Ali, whose father was part of the 1964 team, described coming to Pakistan as “emotional”. “The last time India played against Pakistan 60 years ago my father was on the team and he played three of the matches which he won,” Ali said. “For me to be back here in Pakistan as captain of the Indian team is an emotional moment”, he added expressing hope that the tie would prove positive for the sport of tennis. “If we can help in any way to spread good friendship and the game of tennis then we would have achieved our goal,” he concluded.