Takeaways from India's win against Netherlands in Davis Cup 2026 Qualifiers Round 1
India stunned Netherlands in a thrilling Davis Cup 2026 contest to advance to the second round of Qualifiers.
India defeated 2024 runners-up Netherlands in the Davis Cup 2026 Qualifiers Round 1 tie at the S.M. Krishna Tennis Stadium in Bengaluru, India.
The tie took place across two days, on February 7th and 8th. The hosts eventually secured a closely fought 3-2 win to advance to the next round.
The Indian tennis players delivered impressive performances, despite coming into the tie under a lot of pressure. Tennis fans arrived in large numbers had huge expectations, and the athletes certainly did not disappoint them.
From historic singles wins to the edge of the seat stuff in the doubles, here are India’s takeaways from the Davis Cup tie with Netherlands:
Takeaways from India’s win against Netherlands in Davis Cup 2026 Qualifiers Round 1
Positives
DK Suresh’s rise
Dhakshineswar Suresh was undoubtedly India’s man of the match, during their triumph over the higher seeded Dutch team.
Featuring in three ties, DK Suresh emerged victorious in each of them, spending nearly five hours on court on day two, and helping his country script one of the most memorable moments in the nation’s sporting history.
DK Suresh, ranked outside top-400, won both his singles battles, with his win over Jesper de Jong (ranked #88) being the most shocking upset of the event.
The 25-year-old’s big serve aided with strong returns helped him achieve success, and he will look to build on this momentum and exceed expectations across the world.
Yuki Bhambri’s resilience
India began day two with a dramatic doubles victory as Yuki Bhambri and debutant Dhakshineswar Suresh outlasted David Pel and Sander Arends in a gripping three-hour contest. Showing immense composure under pressure, the Indian pair clinched a 7-6(0), 3-6, 7-6(1) win to put India 2-1 ahead against the Netherlands.
Bhambri, the 2025 US Open doubles finalist, drew on his vast experience to deliver stunning winners at crucial moments, guiding India to a memorable victory against a strong and resilient Dutch pairing under pressure.
Also Read: Davis Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Who will India face in the second round?
Negatives
Sumit Nagal’s underwhelming performance
Sumit Nagal has been India’s No. 1 singles player for a long time. However, his performance in the round 1 qualifiers of 2026 Davis Cup was far from impressive, unable to register a win in both his ties. In the opening match on Day 1, he fell to Guy Den Ouden who’s ranked around 160.
Nagal began sluggishly with a bagel in the first set before mounting a fightback in the second but ultimately lost key moments in the decider. He later admitted missing crucial opportunities and viewing it as a learning experience amid his ongoing recovery from prior injury issues.
On Day 2 in the reverse singles, Nagal again struggled to maintain momentum despite a strong start. He took the opening set 7-5 against world No. 88 Jesper de Jong after an early break, but faded dramatically, dropping the next two sets 1-6, 4-6 in a nearly three-hour battle.
Lack of doubles partners to support Bhambri
India’s Davis Cup Round 1 tie highlighted a notable lack of reliable doubles support for veteran Yuki Bhambri, as captain Rohit Rajpal opted for an unconventional pairing in the crucial rubber.
With India’s traditional doubles specialists like N Sriram Balaji underperforming and Sumit Nagal struggling in the singles field amid his recovery struggles, Bhambri was paired with debutant and lower-ranked singles standout Dhakshineswar Suresh.
Also Read: India vs Netherlands Doubles Video Highlights: Bhambri & Suresh Win 3-Set Thriller) | Davis Cup 2026
While the duo secured the crucial doubles point, India’s lack of a proven specialist in the format was evident. With players like Rithvik Choudary Bollipalli and others yet to establish themselves at the highest level, an excessive workload on Suresh could easily have tilted the tie against India.
Why is India’s win over Netherlands in Davis Cup 2026 Qualifiers Round 1 significant?
Netherlands are World No. 6 in Davis Cup rankings and also finished as runners-up in 2024. So, India were always the underdogs in the tie. Hence, India’s win over the Dutch is seen as a momentous moment in the country’s recent tennis history.
Who was India’s hero in the win over Netherlands?
Dhakshineswar Suresh was India’s hero, winning both his singles matches and the crucial doubles rubber alongside Yuki Bhambri.
Who will India face in the second round of Davis Cup 2026 Qualifiers?
India will take on South Korea from 18–20 September at Gijang Stadium in South Korea for a place in the final eight.
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Aniruddh Seshadri Iyer is a passionate sports journalist at Khel Now, specializing in tennis and Olympic sports. An engineer by training, he found his storytelling passion through iconic Grand Slam and Olympic moments. Known for sharp analysis and insightful coverage, he draws inspiration from Novak Djokovic’s resilience. Outside journalism, he enjoys reading, traveling, and playing the guitar.