Bengaluru, Feb 8 (.) What a weekend it has been for Indian tennis fans! Yuki Bhambri and Dhakshineswar Suresh delivered a masterclass in grit, nerve, and pure determination, winning the crucial doubles rubber 7‑6, 3‑6, 7‑6 over the Dutch combination of Sander Arends and David Pel.
With that victory, India has moved into a 2‑1 lead against the Netherlands in the Davis Cup tie — and honestly, it couldn’t have been more dramatic.
This was not a match about hitting huge winners or showing off power. No, this was about absorbing pressure, sticking it out point by point, and refusing to blink when every rally felt like a final.
Bhambri and Suresh stayed in every single tense moment, repeatedly being pegged back in the third set, only to regroup, hold serve, and push the contest back on their terms. When it finally went to the tie-break at 6‑6 in the decider, the Indian duo stayed ice-cold, played smart, and closed it out to wild applause from the home spectators.
The doubles success came on the heels of a rollercoaster first day of singles on Saturday. Sumit Nagal stumbled in his opening rubber, losing 0‑6, 6‑4, 3‑6 to Guy den Ouden, as the Dutch team grabbed an early 1‑0 lead. But Dhakshineswar Suresh kept India alive, taking down Dutch number one Jesper de Jong 6‑4, 7‑5 in a solid, composed performance. That win was massive — it shifted momentum and injected belief into the Indian camp.
The doubles match itself had everything. The first set tie-break was nail-biting, with both pairs trading points and neither giving an inch. The Dutch came back in the second set to take it 6‑3, showing why they are so dangerous.
The decider became a chess match under fire — India edged ahead, the Netherlands fought back, and the spectators was on its feet for nearly every game.
Fans were shouting, clapping, waving flags, jumping to their feet after every hold of serve, turning the stadium into a cauldron of noise that clearly lifted the home pair. You could feel the tension — one wrong shot, one missed volley, and it could have swung the entire match.
Statistically, it was razor-thin: India served 10 aces to seven for the Netherlands and had fewer double faults. Winners were nearly even, but mental toughness made the difference. After the final point, captain Rohit Rajpal and the entire Indian team rushed onto the court, congratulating the pair as the Dutch team walked off dejected.
Soon after the winning point, members of the Indian contingent, including Captain Rohit Rajpal, and support staff, rushed onto the court to congratulate the players, while the Dutch team walked off dejected. Rajpal’s decision to field Suresh in the doubles came in for particular praise, with the call paying rich dividends at a critical stage of the tie.
Bhambri said it best: “It always feels special to win for your country, especially in front of the home fans.” Suresh added that the support from spectators was a huge boost during tense moments.
With India leading 2‑1, the hosts need just one more win to seal the tie — but if Sunday’s doubles rubber was any indication, this Indian team thrives under pressure.
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