Date:06/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/06/stories/2008080661982300.htm

Sport - Tennis

India shocks Brazil

BANGALORE: India sprang the biggest upset of the opening day when it beat fourth seed Brazil 2-1 in the World junior tennis finals at Prostejov, the Czech Republic, on Monday, according to an e-mail from the team’s non-playing captain Sunil Yajaman.

Digvijay Singh Mehta gave a rousing start to India by winning the first singles with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Montiero Tiago. Later, Brazil’s No. 1 player Dumont Petro defeated Ronit Bisht 6-2, 6-3 and levelled the tie.

In the deciding doubles tie, the Brazilian duo of Petro and Pinehro Vitor won the first set in a tie-breaker against Digvijay and Bisht.

In the second set, the Brazilians were serving for the tie at 5-4 with two match points at 40-15. One winner from Digvijay and an error from the Brazilians brought India back into the tie. There was no stopping the Indian pair after that as it won the set 7-5 and was in complete control of the decider, which it won 6-3 with two service breaks.

The unseeded India is placed in Group II with Brazil, Great Britain and Egypt. The top team from each group moves into the semifinals to play for positions 1 to 4. India plays Egypt next.

The results: India bt Brazil 2-1 (Digvijay Singh Mehta bt Montiero Tiago 6-3, 6-4; Ronit Bisht lost to Dumont Petro 2-6, 3-6; Digvijay & Bisht bt Petro & Pinehro Vitor 6-7(3), 7-5, 6-2).