Davis Cup: India gets off to positive start as Mukund beats Togo’s Ajavon in straight sets
Davis Cup: India gets off to positive start as Mukund beats Togo’s Ajavon in straight sets
India got off to a perfect start against lower-ranked Togo as S. Mukund took down Liova Ayite Ajavon 6-2, 6-1 in the opening singles of the Davis Cup World Group I Playoff tie at the DLTA Complex.
Mukund — playing in only his second Davis Cup tie since he cramped and hobbled off the court on his debut against Morocco in Lucknow in 2023 — began on a shaky note in front of 1500-odd spectators on a pleasant Saturday afternoon.
The unranked Ajavon tried to draw errors from Mukund by engaging him in long rallies with his one-handed backhand slice and drop shots. The plan worked initially as the visitor earned the first break point of the match in the third game. Mukund managed to fend off that break point to hold his serve.
At the change of ends, skipper Rohit Rajpal tried to calm his nerves and suggested minor adjustments for his backhand.
Skipper’s words of encouragement seemed to work as World No. 365 Mukund took control of the rubber with his big serves — hitting three aces — and consistent ground strokes. He went 40-0 up on Ajavon’s serve in the fourth game.
While the Togolese saved the first two break points with a combination of big and wide serves followed by forehand winners into the open court, Mukund converted the third with an easy forehand volley after pinning the opponent to the baseline.
Mukund broke Ajavon and sealed the opener 6-2 in 44 minutes after a forehand from the 25-year-old Togolese player sailed well beyond the baseline. Mukund turned to the spectators and showed a fist pump towards his mother in the front row.
The gulf in quality of the two players widened in the second set as the Indian raced to a 4-0 lead.
A slight lapse in concentration resulted in Mukund dropping serve but the 28-year-old bounced back and broke Ajavon before closing the match comfortably.
Ramkumar Ramanathan faces Thomas Setodji in the second singles rubber on the opening day.
Doubles and the reverse singles will be played on Sunday.
