Tennis

India's Davis Cup hopes suffered a setback as they fell 0-2 behind Sweden in the World Group I tie on Saturday. N Sriram Balaji and Ramkumar Ramanathan were both defeated in straight sets in the opening singles matches.Balaji, a doubles specialist, was outplayed by Elias Ymer 6-4, 6-2. The Indian struggled to keep up with Ymer's powerful groundstrokes and was broken twice in each set.Ramkumar, a more experienced Davis Cupper, was expected to level the tie against Leo Borg, the son of legendary Bjorn Borg. However, the 21-year-old Borg proved to be a formidable opponent, winning 6-3, 6-3.Ramkumar's challenge fell apart in just 58 minutes. He failed to find a way past Borg's solid serve and consistent groundstrokes. The Indian also made several unforced errors, which proved costly.India now face an uphill battle to win the tie. They need to win all three remaining matches on Sunday, including the doubles and two reverse singles.Captain Rohit Rajpal has a tough decision to make regarding the doubles pairing. Balaji and Ramkumar could be given another chance, but Niki Poonacha may also be considered.India have a history of overcoming 0-2 deficits in Davis Cup ties. They beat Brazil in 2010 and China in 2018 after trailing 0-2. However, they will need to produce a special performance to do so again against Sweden.

India to Face Sweden in Davis Cup World Group-1 EncounterIndian tennis star Sriram Balaji will lead the charge for India against Sweden in the Davis Cup World Group-1 encounter, which will be played on indoor hard courts at the Royal Tennis Hall in Stockholm on Saturday. Balaji will open the campaign against Elias Ymer, ranked 238th in the world.The Indian team, which includes Ramkumar Ramanathan, will rely on the duo to secure the first day's play. Balaji and Ramanathan were instrumental in India's 4-0 victory over Pakistan in the World Group play-off earlier this year.Captain Rohit Rajpal has hinted at repeating the players in singles and doubles, after observing their performance in training. The team will depend on Balaji and Ramanathan to shoulder the doubles rubber against Filip Bergevi and Andre Goransson.Ramkumar will face Leo Borg, the son of legendary Bjorn Borg, in the second singles on the opening day. Borg, ranked 603rd, may be less experienced than his father, but he has a strong foundation, having been ranked No.12 in the world as a junior.Sweden has never lost to India in the five ties they have played over the years. In fact, India has managed to win only two rubbers in all. However, the Indian team is determined to break this streak and secure a victory on Swedish soil.The matches on the first day are scheduled to start from 5.30 p.m. IST, while the second day's play, which will feature the doubles followed by the two reverse singles matches, will start at 3.30 p.m. IST. Sony Sports will broadcast the matches live for the Indian audience.

India's Davis Cup hopes have been dealt a blow with the absence of top players Sumit Nagal and Yuki Bhambri for the upcoming World Group tie against Sweden. Captain Rohit Rajpal expressed his disappointment, acknowledging that Nagal's presence would have given India an edge.Rajpal believes that the tie is now evenly matched, with both teams possessing strong doubles teams. He praised the experience of Ramkumar Ramanathan but noted his recent lack of form. The captain emphasized the importance of keeping players fresh for the match days and revealed that they would be training for singles.Rajpal highlighted the indoor hard court conditions in Stockholm, which favor low bounce and medium pace. He pointed out that the Swedish team would have home advantage, with former world No. 1 Bjorn Borg's son, Leo, now the No. 2 player.Despite the challenges, Rajpal remains optimistic about India's chances. He believes that the team can rise to the occasion and clinch the tie. The match is expected to be broadcast live on television, including efforts to secure coverage on Doordarshan.