Davis Cup: One of the best serving days in my career, says Somdev after win over Vesely

September 19, 2015

New Delhi, Sep 19: Somdev Devvarman said it was one of the best serving days of his career as he fired 20 aces in his winning effort against Czech number one Jiri Vesley to help India draw level 1-1 against top seeds Czech Republic in a Davis Cup World Group Play-off tie here today.

somdev

He won 79 per cent of his first serve points, which was one of the key factors in today's successful effort by Somdev.

"I was serving pretty well. It was one of the best serving days of my career. It was nice," said Somdev at the post-match press conference.

"I am very happy with the way I played. I was obviously nervous to begin with. Little bit of the nerves eased because I knew I was not the favourite by any means and people did not expect me to win. So going in there with that kind of an attitude definitely helped me play more relaxed," he added.

Somdev registered his biggest victory of the season, beating Vesley 7-6 (3) 6-4 6-3 after Yuki Bhambri's defeat against big-hitting Lukas Rosol, World No. 85, in the first match.

Ranked 164 in the world, the Indian said that the strategy to hold the Davis Cup World Group Play-off tie in Delhi payed off as the slower court helped him post an upset win over World No. 40 Vesley.

"I think the conditions helped here. We came to Delhi knowing that it will help me and Yuki. Strategy we used in coming to Delhi, the slower courts of DLTA, worked for us today. Czechs are big guys with big servers and are big hitters. Knowing that and given the conditions here we made that decision. We are 1-1 and are in a good position today," said Somdev.

However, Somdev insisted that India were still the underdogs.

"We are still underdogs. They are favourites in every match, expect for the doubles. Tomorrow we are the slight favourites. Other two matches on Sunday, they are again the favourites. But now the way both of us (me and Yuki) have played, we feel lot better about our chances and one match on one day, anything can happen," he said. Somdev said that his team was ready for any surprise that the Czechs might come up with.

"I would not be surprised if they field someone else against me and Yuki. They have four very good singles players. So to come out and change something would not surprise any of us. In fact, they are pretty confident that we are not going to change anything in our line up. But we are ready for anything. We can also expect a change in their doubles team also," said Somdev.

Talking about the crucial moments in the match today, Somdev said: "Playing a really good tie break made a huge difference in the first set. Then I was down a break in the second, in fact that was the only time I lost serve today, but

I kept doing the right things. Guys on the sideline gave me tips, told me what was going on. They told me some things that were going on and I really got some good advice and stuck with it.

"The 4-4 in the second set was a huge game for me. That was the most important game of the match. Tie break was obviously huge and then 4-4 in the second set. I was happy to get out of that game and once that happened, the match kind of opened up for me."

Asked whether he saves his best for Davis Cup, Somdev said: "Every time I play, I give my best. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I am a hard worker as I have always said. Every time I step on the court I give my best. I am happy it works out in Davis Cup once in a while."

On whether he had realised that his opponent wasn't in the best physical state today, Somdev said: "I completely sensed it for sure because he wanted to get out of the long rallies. It was working for him that how well he was serving. It wasn't possible for me to get a good a hit on the return. May be on his second serve I was a lot more successful but not on the first one, those were impossible to read.

"The first two games were really long. Those two games were extremely physical and I was trying to send the message early on. I was trying to keep him out there for as long as possible. That was my strategy."

Vesley had been suffering from some niggles. Somdev said he was happy to have an off day tomorrow and prepare well for Sunday.

"I have a day off tomorrow and I would be happy to be playing just the cheer leader. I will get a nice long sleep, eat well. Keep my body going and be ready for Sunday. Hopefully I will be able to serve well," he said.

Meanwhile Yuki Bhambri, who lost the opening match 2-6 1-6 5-7, said he had a couple of chances but failed to capitalise.

After going down tamely in the first two sets, Yuki had his best chance to win the third one and take the match to the fourth set. Having broken Rosol early in the third set, Yuki had a great opportunity to win it when Rosol was down 0-40 in one of the games but he squandered all five chances.

"I had a great opportunity when I was 0-40 up. You always think 'what could have happened had I broken him'. Going into the fourth set, you never know what could have happened," said Yuki.

"I was getting closer and better, and he was also getting tired under the humid conditions. I did not have many chances. I had just a couple of chances but I failed to capitalise on those," said a disappointed Yuki.

Yuki conceded that it was a tough match and by the time he started to read his opponent in the third set, it was too late.

"I am of course very disappointed. It was a tough match and he was playing really very well. He was hitting the ball really hard and I could not dictate the points at all.

"I started reading his game by the third set and started to play well but could not grab on the opportunities I got."

On Sunday's singles, Yuki said, "I will get to watch him play and get an idea of what to do and how to go about it."

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Agencies
June 23,2020

Islamabad, Jun 23: Seven more Pakistan cricketers, including Muhammad Hafeez and Wahab Riaz, selected for the tour of England have tested positive for COVID-19, taking the total to 10, the PCB revealed on Tuesday.

The seven who tested positive on Tuesday are Kashif Bhatti, Muhammad Hasnain, Fakhar Zaman, Muhammad Rizwan, Imran Khan, Hafeez and Riaz. Shadab Khan, Haider Ali and Haris Rauf had returned positive tests on Monday.

“It is not a great situation to be in and what it shows is these are 10 fit and young athletes...if it can happen to players it can happen to anyone,” Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) CEO, Wasim Khan told a media conference.

He said a support staff member, masseur Malang Ali, had also tested positive for COVID-19.

Khan said that the players and officials would now assemble in Lahore and another round of tests would be carried out on June 25 and a revised squad would be announced the next day.

The squad has to leave on June 28 for the series scheduled to be held next month, he said.

“It is a matter of concern but we shouldn’t panic at this time as we have time on our hands,” Khan said.

He said the players and officials would be retested on reaching England.

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News Network
June 6,2020

New Delhi, Jun 6: Former West Indies pacer Michael Holding has come out in support of MS Dhoni, saying that the wicket-keeper batsman indeed wanted to win the match against England in the 2019 World Cup.

India's performance in the World Cup match against England last year has once again become a matter of debate as all-rounder Ben Stokes in his book titled 'On Fire' questioned the intent of the Indian side.

Stokes also said that Dhoni's intent was questionable as he did not go for big shots when India still had a chance to win the match.

However, Holding said that nowadays people tend to write anything in their books.

"Well, people will write anything in books these days, because people are a lot more free with their opinions and when they are writing books, they need to be making headlines at times," Holding said on his official YouTube channel.

"But, to be honest, a lot of people watching that game perhaps wouldn't have arrived to the same conclusion that Ben Stokes arrived at that India were not trying to win," he added.

Holding did say that it seemed like that India did not have the same intensity as they would have had if the match was a do-or-die match.

"It was not the game that India had to win, but I don't think anyone can say that was a team tactic to lose the game. I watched that game and it appeared to me as if India weren't putting up their 100 per cent, but I realised it was not the case when the expression on MS Dhoni's face told me that he desperately wanted to win, so I do not think it was a team decision to not try to win," the former Windies pacer said.

"But I don't think they went with the same intensity of wanting to win the game, say, if it was a do-or-die situation. If it was, we would have seen a different game," he added.

On his official YouTube channel, Holding also said that no team goes in with a set pattern in terms of chasing targets.

In the round-robin stage match against England in Birmingham, India failed to chase down the massive target of 338 and fell short by 31 runs.

That was the only game that India lost in the premier tournament last year before the semifinal loss against the Kiwis.

India's chasing approach, in particular of wicket-keeper batsman Dhoni, was criticised by many, including the fans at home.

As soon as Stokes mentioned Dhoni's lack of intent in his book 'On Fire', Pakistan fans started saying that India deliberately lost the match to knock out their neighbours.

However, Stokes clarified that he never said India lost deliberately and some people were twisting his words.

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Agencies
July 31,2020

Northamptonshire, Jul 31: Mexican Formula One driver Sergio Perez has tested positive for coronavirus, and as a result, he will miss the British Grand Prix.

The Racing Point driver was absent from the circuit on Thursday after self-isolating following what his team called an "inconclusive" test. Perez then re-tested later in the day and it returned positive.

Formula 1 is following a strict testing regime as part of the safety protocols put in place when racing resumed earlier this month, and this is the first time a driver has tested positive.

"Perez has entered self-quarantine in accordance with the instructions of the relevant public health authorities, and will continue to follow the procedure mandated by those authorities," Formula 1 and the FIA said in a statement.

"With the assistance of the local organiser of the British Grand Prix, local health authorities and the FIA COVID-19 delegate, a full track and trace initiative has been undertaken and all close contacts have been quarantined," the statement added.

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