India is on the verge of a significant Davis Cup victory after taking a decisive 2-0 lead against Switzerland on the first day of their World Group I tie in Biel. Dhakshineswar Suresh, a debutant, and Sumit Nagal, making a comeback to the team, both delivered strong performances in their singles matches, leaving India just one win away from advancing to the Qualifiers.
In the opening rubber, Dhakshineswar Suresh pulled off a stunning upset. The Indian, ranked 626th in the world, defeated World No. 155 Jerome Kym with a score of 7-6(5), 6-3. Despite a significant ranking difference, the tall Indian player showed remarkable composure, saving seven break points throughout the match. His powerful serve and consistent play proved to be the difference against Kym, who struggled to maintain his nerve under pressure.
The second singles match saw Sumit Nagal make a professional return to the Davis Cup team. Nagal, who had skipped the last three ties, put on a commanding performance to beat left-handed Marc-Andrea Huesler 6-3, 7-6(4). Nagal's aggressive tactics, strong court movement, and angled shots gave the Swiss player no room to breathe. Nagal secured the first set with an early break and then held his nerve in a tight second set tie-break to seal the victory.
For India, this 2-0 lead is particularly significant. The team has faltered at this stage of the competition six times since 2021. With their last away win against a European side dating back to 1993, a win on Saturday would be a major achievement. Dhakshineswar Suresh, in a post-match interview, credited his calm mindset for the win. "I just stayed calm, played my game, no matter the situation is. There was a lot of pressure, going for country for the first time. I feel I handled it pretty well."
The action on Day 2 will begin with the men’s doubles match, where N Sriram Balaji and Rithvik Bollipalli will face Jakub Paul and Henry Bernet. A victory in this match would give India an unassailable 3-0 lead and a spot in the 2026 Qualifiers. The reverse singles will follow, but India will be hoping to wrap up the tie early.
