'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The Serb starts off with a bang
Dusan Lajovic had defeated Yuki Bhambri earlier in the day to give Serbia a 1-0 lead against India in the Davis Cup playoff tie, so a lot was on the line for Somdev Devvarman as he took on Filip Krajinovic in his bid to even things out.
But it was Krajinovic who looked like a man on a mission at the start, as he backed his fiery first serves with thumping forehand winners in the beginning of the first set. Devvarman, on his part, looked out of sorts with less-than-impressive serving coupled with a lot of unforced errors as he was broken three times in the first set, handing it to the Serb 6-1.
Pendulum swing in the second set, but Krajinovic holds on
Krajinovic couldn't find his first serve in the third game and was eventually broken after saving a bunch of break points. But the Indian couldn't capitalise on the lead as the Serb got right back into the match with powerful groundstrokes to even things at 4-4.
The ninth game turned out to be crucial for Devvarman as he converted his break point opportunity and then held his serve to tie the match at one set all.
The third set began with both players holding their serve with relative ease. Devvarman had chances in the fifth game, but the Serb held his nerve to go 3-2 up.
Krajinovic was the first to strike in the set after a poor service game from the highest-ranked Indian gave the Serb a 4-2 4-2. There was no respite from Krajonovic's booming first serve as he finished off the set 6-3.
Slew of unforced errors cost Devvarman the match
The fourth set got off to the worst possible start for Devvarman as he double faulted to hand away the first game to Krajinovic. The Indian then found himself 0-40 down in the third game, but dug deep to prevent the Serb from going two breaks up.
He wasn't as lucky in the fifth game though as the Serb broke him to love to give himself the chance to serve for the match. The crowd by then could predict the result and started to leave, much to the disappointment of the Indian camp.
Krajinovic finished the match with a couple of down-the-line winners, one off his forehand and the other off the backhand.
The action now shifts to doubles where Leander Paes and Rohan Bopanna will battle to keep India alive in the rubber.
Final scoreline: Filip Krajinovic beat Somdev Devvarman 6-1, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
