Davis Cup: India and New Zealand level at 1-1 after first day's play

Yuki Bhambri helped India level with his straight sets win against Jose Statham

India and New Zealand shared honours on the opening day of their Asia Oceania Group I tie in Christchurch on Friday.

Michael Venus got the better of India’s No. 1 Somdev Devvarman 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 in a marathon match that lasted three hours and 43 minutes. Somdev came into the match after winning a challenger title in the USA. The Indian was in firm control of proceedings before letting Venus into the match in the third set.

Venus egged on by the home crowd, upped his intensity to trounce Somdev and surprise the Indian camp.

Yuki Bhambri brought India on level terms with a comfortable 6-2, 6-1, 6-3 win over Jose Statham in the second rubber. Bhambri broke Somdev’s serve in the fifth and seventh games before serving out the first set.

Yuki led 4-1 courtesy a double break in the second set and Statham’s chances of a fightback looked bleak. He took the second set and led 4-2 after breaking Venus’s serve in the sixth game. Venus managed to stay in the match after holding serve in the eighth game, but Yuki served out the match in the next game.

The winner of this tie will qualify for the World Group Playoffs in September.