Internet Desk: Indian debutant singles player Ramkumar kept the flag high in the Davis Cup tie against South Korea. Along with him Saketh Myneni also won his match. As a result India remained ahead of South Korea before their second day of Davis Cup tie.
The much awaited tie between Ramkumar Ramanathan was a success for India. The 21-year-old Ramkumar, ranked 217, put the hosts ahead in his Davis Cup debut when Seong Chan Hong conceded the first singles due to cramps in his right thigh as the Indian was serving for the match.
After battling hard for two hours and 36 minutes, Ramkumar was leading6-3 2-6 6-3 6-5 (15-15). Hong suddenly clenched his right thigh and grimaced in pain, bringing about a sudden end to the match at the Chandigarh Club.
After the match rain washed away Chandigarh. The second match of Myneni became uncertain. However, the match was on and Myneni won it by 6-1 3-6 6-4 3-6 5–2. The surface improved when Myneni played as the ball was bouncing a lot better. The onus to bring Korea back was on the most experienced player of the side, Yong-Kyu Lim, but Myneni dashed their hopes.
The hot and humid conditions tested fitness of the players even as the Koreans negotiated the grass courts, on which they hardly play, quite well. They had done their homework and made life tough for both Ramkumar and Myneni.
Surprisingly, it was the Koreans who approached the net more than the Indians, who are far more accustomed to playing on grass. They had played a lot on the grass in the run-up to the Wimbledon. Rohan Bopanna and Leander Paes will look to wrap up the tie when they face Hong Chung and Yunseong Chung tomorrow.