New Davis Cup hero emerges as Dhakshineswar seals India’s 3-2 win

Bengaluru: Dhakshineswar Suresh capped a breakthrough Davis Cup performance by clinching the decisive fifth rubber to hand India a memorable 3-2 win over the Netherlands and seal the country’s place in the Qualifiers Round 2, underlining his rapid rise as the hosts’ new match-winner, here Sunday.

Playing only his second Davis Cup tie, the 25-year-old -- fondly known as DK -- delivered an extraordinary three-win haul, claiming both his singles rubbers and combining with Yuki Bhambri to win the doubles, a rare feat in Indian Davis Cup history and one that evokes memories of Leander Paes’ heroic effort against Japan in 2004.

Back then, Paes had swept all three matches he played -- two singles and the doubles -- single-handedly steering India to victory.

More than two decades later, Dhakshineswar, ranked as low as 465, produced a similarly defining performance, shouldering the pressure in the deciding rubber against Guy de Ouden, winning 6-4 7-6 (4) to emerge as India’s new Davis Cup hero.

As he hit the tie-ending forehand winner, Dhakshineswar fell on his back. His teammates rushed to hug him and then carried him on their shoulders, celebrating a rare consecutive success against European sides.

India had beaten Switzerland last year in their own den.

The Netherlands missed their top two singles players -- world number 29 Tallon Griekspoor and world number 67 Botic van de Zandschulp -- and it allowed India, ranked as low as 33 in Davis Cup rankings, a fighting chance, and they grabbed it with both hands, beating the world number six team.

This is the first time India have made it to the second round of the Qualifiers since the new Davis Cup format was launched in 2019, getting a step closer to the elite eight-team Finals. They are likely to meet Korea next.

Beginning the day tied 1-1, Yuki Bhambri and Dhakshineswar prevailed in a marathon doubles rubber, outlasting David Pel and Sander Arends 7-6(0) 3-6, 7-6 (1) to put India ahead 2-1.

Sumit Nagal had a one-set advantage but lost 7-5 1-6 4-6 to world number 88 Jesper de Jong in an energy-sapping reverse singles that lasted nearly three hours.

This was Nagal’s second defeat in the tie, having lost opening singles.

Captain Rohit Rajpal had called Dhakshineswar his “trump card” and he did not disappoint, producing a superlative show.

Despite having spent close to three hours on court earlier in the day alongside Bhambri in the doubles, Dhakshineswar showed no signs of fatigue as he came out firing on all cylinders.

The Indian’s big serve remained his biggest weapon. He fired 15 aces in the match. The Indian seized the initiative in the opening set, earning his first break in the seventh game when

De Ouden committed consecutive backhand errors.

Dhakshineswar had a set point in the ninth game after the Dutchman missed a backhand return, but the chance slipped away.

He made no mistake in the following game, though, sealing the set with an ace on his second set point.

De Ouden attempted to stay in the contest, saving a break point with a running forehand winner in the fifth game of the second set.

However, Dhakshineswar struck again at 4-4, capitalising on his next opportunity before serving out the tie.