Moscow:
India are in danger of losing their hard earned place in the elite Davis Cup World Group as they conceded a 2-0 lead to Russia on the opening day of the first round tie following contrasting defeats of Somdev Devvarman and Rohan Bopanna.
India entered the World Group after a gap of 11 years and destiny gave them the best chance to progress as Russia's top players -- world number six Nikolay Davydenko and world number 38 Igor Andreev -- suffered injuries and were ruled out.
However, India could not take advantage of their absence and now find themselves in an unenviable position of winning all the remaining three rubbers in the next two days.
Much depended on Somdev but the Indian lost the opening rubber 7-6 (8) 6-7 (4) 3-6 4-6 to Igor Kunitsyn despite dominating it initially.
Kunitsyn was not scheduled to play the rubber but last minute knee injury to Andreev sent him in and the Russian responded to the SOS call in the best manner.
Big serving Bopanna was no match to world number 13 Mikhail Youzhny, losing the second singles 4-6 2-6 3-6 to round off a disappointing day for the visitors.
Leander Paes and Mahesh Bupathi will take on Kunitsyn and Teimuraz Gabashvili in the doubles rubber tomorrow and reverse singles will be played on Sunday.
The winner of the tie will move to the quarter-finals and the loser will compete in play-offs to re-enter the elite 16-team World Group.
After Somdev's unexpected defeat, Bopanna had the big responsibility to rescue India but the task was too much for a player, who has been concentrating on doubles on the ATP Tour in the recent times.
Bopanna had helped India in the play-off tie against South Africa by pulling off impressive singles win but he could not repeat the act though he did all he could within his limits.
He created opportunities with some booming forehand winners and big serves but Youzhny showed his class and proved sheer power would not win you matches.
Youzhny was clinical as he saved breakpoints with utmost ease and converted his chances at first opportunity.
Earlier, Somdev let advantage slip out of hands, losing the opening rubber from an advantageous position.
Somdev had taken control of the first singles match after winning the first set and took a 5-2 lead in the second set but lost the plot after that in a marathon contest which lasted close to four hours.
Due to slow nature of the court, long rallies came into play and rather than the power, it was persistence, precision and stamina that was required to earn points.
These types of courts suit Somdev's game but Kunitsyn was brilliant at the net and his tenacity paid in the end.
Somdev struggled to control his strokes after the first five games of the first set went with serve. That was enough for the Russian to create a break opportunity.
Kunitsyn smashed a backhand to go 40-0 up in the sixth game and coverted third chance to get the first break.
Somdev though was unperturbed and immediately broke back. Two exquisite backhands did it for him and it all boiled down to the tie-break as the next five games again went with serve.
Somdev came up after trailing 1-3 and a big serve set up the first set point but an attempted backhand winner sailed over the baseline, bringing relief for the hosts.
Somdev though came up with another big serve and sealed the first set after Kunitsyn sent a forehand wide.
Crucial lead in pocket, Somdev came up firing on all cylinders in the second set, racing to a 3-0 lead.
The body language of the Russian did not look positive after the assault but Kunitsyn fought his way into the match and turned it around brilliantly.
With 5-2 cushion it looked one way traffic in favour of Somdev but soon the match was back to even terms with the Russian winning three consecutive games and stretched it to a tie-breaker. Some line calls also contributed in disturbing Somdev's rhythm.
His confidence back, Kunitsyn unleashed some powerful shots and played intelligently. He set up points beautifully by pinning Somdev to baseline and suprisingly the match which looked like going India's way was again alive.
Momentum shifted in favour of the host player but Somdev too was not ready to throw in the towel and an intriguing fight ensued in the third set.
Another doubtful call on a Somdev forehand handed Kunitsyn a crucial break in the eighth game. Somdev pleaded his case with the chair umpire but the decision remained and the Russian served out the set in the next game.
The two players fought hard in the fourth set but it was the Russian who took points when it matttered most and gave his side lead.