Davis Cup 2021: Finland takes 2-0 lead against India

Both Indian players failed to clinch the win in the first two matches.

The World Group 1 Davis Cup tie kicked off in Espoo, Finland for India with two big tennis matches on the cards. The first one was between Prajnesh Gunneswaran and Otto Virtanen followed by a match between Ramkumar Ramanathan and Emil Ruusuvuori. Ruusuvuori is the top ranked Finnish player and 74th seed and so the task was never going to be easy for the Indian tennis star.

Prajnesh, on the other hand, is the highest ranked Indian singles player and so the team had high hopes from him in the Davis Cup. World no. 165 Prajnesh hits the ball well, according to the Indian coach Zeeshan Ali. Moreover, India's Davis Cup captain Rohit Rajpal had also shown great trust in him showing confidence in his abilities.

Prajnesh fall short of expectations in the opening tie

The match between Prajnesh Gunneswaran and Otto Virtanen certainly disappointed the Indian fans. The Indian player lost his match in straight sets against Virtanen who is ranked 419 in the ATP rankings. Virtanen made full use of his home advantage and was aggressive from the get-go. He started the match with the opening serve and both players held onto their serve till 2-2. However, things changed when Pranjesh could not hold onto his serve in the sixth game. This allowed Virtanen to take a 4-2 lead after having held his serve to go 3-2 up.

The home favourite held on to his serve and went up 5-2 in the match. Serving to stay in the set, Gunneswaran kept his nerve to make it 3-5. But it was too little too late at that point in time. Virtanen held on to his serve in the next game to seal the deal on the first set. In the second set, however, the Indian came back strong.-

Prajnesh opened the service in the next set. Both players went to set points with neither looking to give an inch to the opposition. This went on till both the players were level at 6-6. The match then decidedly went onto a tiebreaker. Unfortunately for India, Pranjesh could not capitalize on this opportunity to get even. Otto took full swing and roped up the tiebreaker 7-1. The match finally ended with a 6-3, 7-6 (1) scoreline in the favour of the Finnish player.

Ruusuvuori proved to be too much for Ramanathan

The match between Emil Ruusuvuori and Ramkumar Ramanathan kicked off in style. Ramanathan laid the early blow, breaking Ruusuvuori in the first game of the match by taking an early lead. However, that joy was short-lived as Ruusuvuori came back to equalize the score at 1-1. Ruusuvuori took the best out of the Indian player once again in the sixth game to take a 4-2 lead in the match.

Ramanathan later fought back to reduce the gap to 3-4. He went onto hold his serve after winning the game point at 4-4. But it was Russuvuori who had the last laugh as he won the first set by a 6-4 scoreline.

Russuvuori opened up the second set with his service to go up 1-0. Ramanathan too held his service to tie the set at 1-1. However, things took a turn in the favour of the Finnish star as Ruusuvuori held his serve to go up 6-5. Ramanathan knew he had to hold his serve next to stay in the game.

The Finnish tennis star ended up getting the better of his opponent as he clinched the set and the match by 6-4, 7-5 in front of the home crowd.

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