India played the good hosts and lost both the singles to Serbia on the opening day of the Davis Cup World Group play-off tie here Friday.
First up on court, Yuki Bhambri wasted chances galore, including a 4-1 lead in the third set, against Serbian No.1 player Dusan Lajovic who romped to 6-3, 6-2, 7-5, win in little over two hours.
Later, Somdev Devvarman, who has scripted some fine Davis Cup wins, flattered to deceive as a grateful Filip Krajinovic scrambled to a 6-1, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, win to put Serbia 2-0 ahead.
Yet again, it will be lot of the doubles tandem, this time the veterans Leander Paes and Rohan Bopanna, with a combined age of 75 years, to keep India in the hunt by winning the doubles Saturday.
The less-than-full house crowd did not have much to cheer about though it did not fail to exercise its collective vocal cord, but all for nothing.
If 22-year old Bhambri, ranked 153 as against Lajovic's 61, had just a glimmer of hope, then Devvarman, at 30 and No. 144, besides being one of the seniors in the squad, stayed with Krajinovic, for a while before fading away as India completed a disappointing performance on the opening day.
The inspiration that the Indians were looking for was never apparent as neither Bhambri nor Devvarman were able to extricate themselves from the quicksand of unforced errors in sharp contrast to the Serbs who did the little things right to piece together deserving victories.
Devvarman was blown off the court in the first set as two breaks of serve in the third and fifth game saw Krajinovic go 1-0 up in just 27 minutes.
Then came the best period for India as Devvarman, digging deep, played some pleasing tennis to upend Krajinovic to draw level. The set witnessed three breaks, two of them by the 30-year old Indian who rallied well and found good angles.
However, Krajinovic, ranked 107, and in his second Davis Cup tie, regained his composure to take the third on a break in the sixth before wrapping up the fourth with breaks in the first and seventh.
For Krajinovic, the absence of World No.1 Novak Djokovic and Janko Tipsarevic provided an excellent opportunity showcase his talent after travelling with the Davis Cup team as a reserve for several years.
"It was because I had spent so much time with the team that I was able to play today and win. Somdev played well in the second set, but I was more aggressive in the third and fourth sets.
"The match was anything but easy as the scores might suggest. I had to work hard for every point," said Krajinovic.
An obviously disappointed Devvarman said: "I thought I played well in the second set, but unfortunately, did not in the third and fourth. But hopefully, we will come out tomorrow and do better."
Earlier, Lajovic shrugged off a shaky start to put out Bhambri who lost the plot when on top when he blew a chance by dropping serve in the crucial eighth game and then wasting a couple of break points in the ninth that the Serb took after eight deuces.
A relieved Lajovic began to play with increased confidence and raced away with the second aided by two breaks before falling 1-4 behind in the third.
It was not as if Bhambri was playing badly, but he lacked the sort of consistency in shot making that his opponent showed and although committing fewer unforced errors, the home player failed to sustain his level of play.
Bhambri's inability to close out proved his undoing as Lajovic came roaring back with two breaks in the seventh and 11th games before sealing the issue in the 12th.
Bhambri conceded that he has lost to an opponent who played better while Lajovic said that he warmed up only in the second set and was a bit tentative at the start.
"I was a bit tight in the first set which he could have won, but after I took the first I began to play well and with more confidence.
"The two service breaks in the second gave me a 2-0 advantage, but he began to play well in the third and I was under pressure trailing 1-4.
"But still, I knew that he will be tight serving and I started putting more balls in play. I took my chances and won," said Lajovic after the match.
Bhambri admitted that he had his chances to at least make a fight of it if not win the match but for the many unforced errors, especially on his forehand.
"The Serb was a bit tentative at the start of the match, but in the first set, it could have been 4-all instead of 5-3 in his favour as I committed some errors and wasted a breakpoint.
"I did not mix my shots and perhaps, should have played more of the chip and spin. But he was a better player today," said Bhambri.
