Bengaluru, February 8 Yuki Bhambri and Dhakshineswar Suresh prevailed in a grueling doubles match, defeating David Pel and Sander Arends 7-6 (0), 3-6, 7-6 (1), as India took a 2-1 lead in their Davis Cup Qualifiers Round 1 tie against the Netherlands on Sunday.
In a match that swung back and forth for exactly three hours, India captain Rohit Rajpal's decision to bring in Dhakshineswar in place of N Sriram Balaji for the high-stakes doubles proved decisive, as the home pair held their nerve when it mattered most.
With both teams desperate to gain control of the tie after it was tied at 1-1 overnight, the first set turned into a test of patience and resolve.
Bhambri's serve was under sustained pressure, particularly in the seventh game when his first serve failed him. A double fault at 30-all gave the Dutch a break point, but Bhambri responded with deep, probing returns to neutralize the threat.
Dhakshineswar then missed a routine backhand volley on game point, and Arends' awkward but effective overhead smash aimed at his legs earned the visitors another break chance.
Once again, the Indian pair survived, with Dhakshineswar showing deft touch at the net before Arends finally made a mistake with a long return to end a prolonged game.
India earned its first break opportunity in the following game when Dhakshineswar threaded a forehand winner between Pel and Arends at 30-all, but the Dutch pair escaped.
Bhambri was again under pressure in the 11th game, as India faced five break points before somehow holding on, earning loud cheers from the home crowd.
With neither side able to force a breakthrough, the set went into a tie-break, where the Indians suddenly found another gear. Bhambri and Dhakshineswar raced to a 4-0 lead and closed it out without dropping a point, highlighted by Dhakshineswar's sharply angled passing winner and Bhambri's clean service return winner at 5-0.
However, the momentum shifted in the second set. Left-handed Pel initially struggled with his first serve, serving two double faults in the third game, but the Indians failed to capitalize.
Bhambri's first-serve troubles resurfaced, and another double fault gave the Netherlands a crucial break opportunity. Arends converted with a crisp backhand volley return winner, opening up a 4-2 lead. Pel consolidated the break as the visitors tightened their grip, leveling the match at one set apiece.
The deciding set was a battle of attrition. India had multiple chances to break early, most notably when Pel fell to 0-40 after serving two double faults and Bhambri lasered a return winner, but the home pair squandered all three opportunities.
Dhakshineswar then showed composure under pressure to save a break point in the next game.
India continued to push, creating chances on Pel's serve again in the eighth game, with Dhakshineswar producing two exquisite return winners, only for the Dutch to escape again. Arends too came under pressure at 0-30 in his following service game.
The turning point came when Arends took a medical timeout for treatment on his left hand, with his little and ring fingers taped. From there, the Dutch player struggled to serve with the same effectiveness, allowing the Indians to finally seize control and close out the match.
The win gave India a crucial advantage going into the reverse singles, where Sumit Nagal is scheduled to face Jesper de Jong, followed by Dhakshineswar's clash against Guy den Ouden.