Bengaluru, Feb. 7 -- India's Davis Cup 2026 campaign began with a challenging start as Sumit Nagal, struggling to find his rhythm and initially a "sitting duck" on court, fell to Netherlands' Guy den Ouden in the opening singles match of the first-round tie at the SM Krishna Tennis Stadium on Saturday.
Den Ouden secured a 6-0, 4-6, 6-3 victory, giving the Netherlands a crucial 1-0 lead, but the match was far more nuanced than the scoreline suggests. Den Ouden later acknowledged that the energy from Bengaluru's passionate fans helped him maintain focus and lift his performance at key moments.
The first set was dominated by Den Ouden, who came out aggressively, dictating play from the baseline. His deep, precise shots and consistent variati...