India creates Fed Cup history

Ankita, last Saturday night, pulled off a crucial singles win against talented Aldila Sutjiadi to lock the tie 1-1 after Rutuja Bhosale suffered a crushing defeat against an unranked Priska Madelyn Nugroho. Up against the 16-year-old Indonesian, who is ranked 15th on the ITF junior circuit, Rutuja lost 3-6, 6-0, 3-6 in an hour and 43 minutes in the opening singles.

Ankita, who lost her previous two singles, demolished the challenge of Sutjiadi 6-3, 6-3 in the second rubber. She then combined with seasoned Sania Mirza to beat Sutziyadi and Nugroho 7-6(4), 6-0 to seal India’s place in the play-offs where they will take on either Latvia or the Netherlands in April.

Men’s team loses to Croatia

Zagreb: Sumit Nagal was routed by Marin Cilic after Rohan Bopanna and Leander Paes won the do-or-die doubles duel as India lost the Davis Cup Qualifiers 1-3 to Croatia.

Nagal could clinch just one game in the match in which the 2014 US Open champion won 6-0, 6-1 in just minutes.

Captain Rohit Rajpal had dropped Nagal on the opening day of the tie but gave him a chance to prove a point but the young Indian was hammered by the World No.37 Croat. With the loss, India will now compete in World Group I in September to get back to the Davis Cup Qualifiers.

Earlier, coming into the do-or-die match, Paes and Bopanna, won 6-3, 6-7 (9), 7-5 after two hours and 21 minutes against Mate Pavic and Franko Skugor to keep India’s hopes alive.

The Indians missed two match points in the second set tie-breaker but eventually held their nerves to win the third set in which they initially fell behind.