History, indeed, repeated itself. India recorded their sixth 5-0 whitewash of Indonesia in Davis Cup tennis. Somdev Devvarman and Yuki Bhambri won their reverse singles ties with consummate ease at the KSLTA Stadium as India remained in Group I of the Asia Oceania Zone on Sunday.
The 3-0 unassailable lead that India had on Saturday after winning the doubles, saw Indonesia make a change in the reverse singles. They rested their top player Christopher Rungkat and played David Agung Susanto instead. It made no difference as Somdev raced away to a 6-3, 6-1 victory. Yuki then breezed past Wisnu Adi Nugroho 6-0, 6-1 to complete the formalities.
The reverse singles were best-of-three set affairs. It was a blessing for the players as they did not have to spend more time in the hot sun.
Producing some brilliant cross-court forehands and backhands and some flat down-the-line shots, Somdev was always in control except in the 5th game of the second set when Susanto forced deuce on six occasions before being eventually broken. With Susanto alternating between brilliance and mediocrity, all Somdev had to do was to keep the ball in play.
The two of them held serve till the fifth game when Somdev led 3-2. He then broke Susanto in the sixth game for the first time to increase the lead to 4-2. Somdev wrapped up the set at 6-3 with some unreturnable serves and an angled shot to the forehand corner that Susanto could do nothing about.
Susanto was all nerves in the second set and committed two double faults to add to his woes. Somdev broke him in the second and the fifth games to take a 5-1 lead in double-quick time slamming three superb aces as well. As Susanto served, he netted often and then Somdev slammed a ferocious cross-court forehand winner and raised his hands in triumph.
Yuki passed his opponent Wisnu at will with sizzling down-the-line forehand and backhand winners. He also displayed some silken touch at the net or flat returns to the corners to leave the Indonesian gasping for breath.
Always in control, Yuki broke his opponent thrice to wrap up the first set 6-0. Wisnu managed to hold serve only once in the second as the wiry Indian played attractive tennis to win it 6-1.
The crowd gave the victorious Indian team a huge round of applause after the game. Despite there being little interest in terms of competition, a sizeable crowd turned up to cheer the Indians to victory.