BANGALORE: His straight sets win over India’s Yuki Bhambri in the fifth and final David Cup rubber, notwithstanding, Serbia’s Filip Krajinovic on Monday said the deciding match was a “tough” one especially because of the overnight rain interruption.
India’s agonising wait to return to the World Group continued as the hosts lost 2-3 to Serbia in the rain-hit playoff tie after Yuki Bhambri surrendered tamely 3-6, 4-6, 4-6 against Krajinovic in the extended decisive fifth rubber on Monday.
“I don’t think it was an easy match. It was a tough match considering the fact that it was stopped last night due to rains, which disturbed our momentum. I did well in spite of altitude and weather conditions,” he told reporters at post-match press conference at Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association (KSLTA) stadium.
Krajinovic said he couldn’t sleep well last night as he was under pressure to finish off the tie and reclain 2010 champion Serbia’s place in the World Group.
“I couldn’t sleep really well because I was in a lot of pressure. I was in a position to finish off the match. I was on my way to win the second set as well when rains came down,” he said.
Asked how much pressure he felt after Somdev Devvarman had equalised the tie 2-2 for India, Krajinovic said: “It was a good experience because I had not played a big match in the Davis Cup before. I think I played well.”
“I was believing in myself that I can come back into the match. I played well when it was required. It was not easy to play in a match like this,” he said.
Krajinovic also thanked his team for helping him win the all-important match.
“I thank the Serbian team for all the preparations off and on the court,” he said.
“Yuki is a good friend of mine. We played together at the junior level and there was no rivalry with him.”
Serbia’s non-playing captain Bogdan Obradovic said India played good tennis because it is very tough to make a comeback after being 0-2 down in a tie.
“What can I say about the Indian side, it is very tough to comeback from 0-2 down in a tie. You need some energy. Leander (Paes) and Rohan Bopanna brought the India back in the reckoning,” he said.
Obradovic said he was very happy with the performance of his young side, especially in the absence of top players — Novak Djokovic and Janko Tipsarevic.
“We are very happy. Now we have younger team which is great for us. Thy have done well in the absence of our top players,” he said.
