In the sixth recreation of the second set, N Sriram Balaji slipped and fell going for a backhand sprinting throughout the inexperienced. He rapidly discovered his toes once more to answer a feeble volley from Aqeel Khan with a forehand that didn’t come again.

That level summed up the opening day of the Davis Cup World Group I play-off tie between India and Pakistan in Islamabad on Saturday. The guests took the anticipated 2-0 lead, however not earlier than some hiccups and surprising battle from the hosts who fielded a few 43-year-olds for the 2 singles rubbers.

India’s Ramkumar Ramanathan and Balaji although bought the job carried out in the long run, the previous rallying from a set right down to beat Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi 6-7(3), 7-6(4), 6-0 and the latter brushing previous Khan 7-5, 6-3 to provide the depleted visiting workforce a 2-0 lead. India will look to seal the tie within the doubles encounter — Yuki Bhambri and Saketh Myneni will play Barkatullah and Muzammil Murtaza — on Sunday, which is able to take them to World Group I.

With an Indian Davis Cup workforce visiting Pakistan after 60 years and the low-bouncing grass courts of Islamabad considerably alien to many of the Indian gamers, there was a sure diploma of the unknown round this tie which, on paper, was a mismatch.

Aisam, the doubles specialist who final performed singles on the ATP Tour in 2017 but continues to take action for his nation, although started on an excellent keel in opposition to Ramkumar. Leading the Indian cost within the absence of Sumit Nagal, Ramkumar has the serve-and-volley recreation to go well with the floor however even he was examined by Rohan Bopanna’s former companion from throughout the border. Aisam’s spectacular serving within the first set (he gained 92% factors on his first serve) offset Ramkumar’s 10 aces, taking the set to the tiebreaker the place the Pakistani bagged an early mini break and shortly the set.

The Indian responded by breaking Aisam’s serve within the opening recreation of the second set earlier than the latter levelled issues up within the fourth recreation. Aisam had a couple of extra break alternatives however Ramkumar managed to wriggle out of it and drive one other tiebreaker. This time, the Indian kicked issues off with a mini break and rode the momentum to drive a decider.

With the 43-year-old more and more struggling bodily, the third set turned out to be a no-contest. The Indian completed the match with 20 aces, and his opponent with 10 double faults.

“This will go down as a special win for me given we are in Pakistan. It is not easy to win away,” Ramkumar was quoted as saying by PTI. “I adapted really well. Aisam slowed down the game while serving.”

Balaji, 33, has not performed singles on the Tour for 2 years however was picked over younger Niki Poonacha maybe conserving the floor in thoughts. He had a far smoother outing in opposition to Aqeel, whose career-high singles rating of 349 got here a decade in the past, of their rain-hit tie.

Balaji broke Aqeel within the twelfth recreation with Aqeel serving to take the primary set right into a tiebreaker. The decisive break got here earlier within the second set, for a 4-2 lead for the Indian which was sufficient to shut the tie.