Davis Cup: India makes quick work of Togo, takes 2-0 lead on day one

India dominates Davis Cup play-off with easy wins by Mukund and Ramanathan, taking a 2-0 lead against Togo.

New Delhi: India was always expected to win but even Sasikumar Mukund and Ramkumar Ramanathan were surprised by the ease with which they dismantled their Togolese opponents as India took on a comprehensive 2-0 lead on Day One of its Davis Cup World Group 1 play-off at the DLTA Stadium here on Saturday.

The two singles matches combined lasted for only 125 minutes as the Indians, ranked much higher both individually and as a team, wrapped up the formalities. While Mukund returned to Davis Cup action for the first time since 2023 with a fluent 6-2, 6-1 win against Liova Ajavon in the opener, Ramkumar made quick work of Thomas Setodji, winning 6-0, 6-2 in the second singles.

With the centre court stands less than half full, there was little to excite the over 1,000 fans, including a handful of vocal Togo supporters, who turned up to witness the competition. The 73rd-ranked visitors, coming in on the back of some impressive victories and a winning streak, had promised a tough fight but were unable to trouble the Indians, ranked 38th.

The 28-year-old Mukund, ranked 365th in the world, needed just one hour and 15 minutes for his win. Barely breaking sweat in cool conditions, he made Ajavon run around to simply stay afloat, consistently targeting his backhand and coming to the net to close out games. Ajavon tried to defend and was up to the task in the first few games but could not capitalise on early chances even as Mukund kept growing into the match.

The first and only time Ajavon managed to break Mukund was in game five of the second set but it was small consolation, a double break already giving a comfortable 4-0 lead to Mukund, who closed the match two games later.

Ramkumar overpowered Setodji, ranked 1256, in just 50 minutes in another lop-sided affair. Setodji, with his right arm heavily taped, appeared to struggle to even serve with conviction, erratic and barely able to get the ball past the net and errors.

On Sunday, N. Sriram Balaji and Rithvik Choudary Bollipalli will be hoping to win the doubles match, wrap up the tie early and seal India’s place in World Group 1.