Somdev backs doubles specialists to lead fightback

BANGALORE: Down 0-2 in the Davis Cup World Group playoff against Serbia, Indian ace Somdev Devvarman said if any team could dig itself out of a hole of this nature, it would be the hosts.
Somdev, speaking after his 1-6, 6-4, 3-6, 2-6 loss to the 22-year-old Filip Krajinovic, drew inspiration from the fact that India were the only team to overturn a 0-2 deficit in 72 Davis Cup playoff ties from 2005 to 2013.
Somdev was part of that epic encounter between India and Brazil in 2010, and backed doubles specialists Rohan Bopanna and Leander Paes to lead the fightback on Saturday.
"It's going to be extremely tough," said the world No. 143. "We're down against a very good nation but we have two good doubles players, so we feel we'll always have a chance," said the 29 year-old.
"We have done it once before in Chennai so we have the belief that we can do it again. We will have to take things one step at a time. The boys will be fired up tomorrow to get us on the board and hopefully I'll get another chance on Sunday," he added.
Earlier, Indian youngster Yuki Bhambri admitted after his loss to Dusan Lajovic that he had suffered a bad day in the office against a much better player. Bhambri was felled 3-6, 2-6, 5-7 by the big-serving world No. 61 as the Serbs drew first blood.
"If it had been anybody else, maybe I could have been a lot closer. I had my chances and I should have taken them. At 3-5 in the first set, the game went on for 10 minutes. Had I broken him there it might have been different," said the 22-year-old, further lamenting his decision-making.
"I didn't push him enough in the first two sets. In the second set, I had the lead after breaking his serve and then I really played a bad game hitting four forehand errors. He made me work hard, do a lot more to win points from the baseline," said the world No. 153.
Bhambri said, "I feel I might have given him a bit too much respect, especially when hitting some short balls. That's where I missed out."