TNT Sports
Sweden seals WG spot
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Published 26/09/2005 at 11:49 GMT+1
Seven-times champions Sweden prevailed 5-0 over India in their rain-affected tie to keep their place in the 16-nation Davis Cup World Group. Former Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson beat Prakash Amritraj 6-4 6-3 6-2 giving Sweden the best-of-five
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Image credit: TNT Sports
"I'm more relieved," captain Mats Wilander told reporters after his team extended their record over India to 5-0.
"At least you don't have to play tough countries in a division lower.
"Davis Cup for Sweden is a tradition, we guys learn a lot about ourselves and help each other, show good camaraderie.
"Most importantly we were not getting down because of the circumstances," he said of the uneven bounce and sapping humidity, an issue which he felt should be reviewed by the International Tennis Federation in the future.
Favourites Sweden had led 2-0 overnight, the tie spilling into day four after heavy rain washed out play on Saturday and delayed resumption on Sunday due to a wet grass court.
Former top ranked pair Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi had kept India's slim hopes alive on Monday by notching a 3-6 6-3 6-4 6-3 doubles victory over Jonas Bjorkman and Simon Aspelin.
MAIDEN SUCCESS
Sweden made a perfect start on Friday when Bjorkman, the world's top doubles player, beat Amritraj 6-4 6-4 6-4 in the first singles. Johansson then downed big-serving Rohan Bopanna 7-6 7-6 7-6 in a match which finished on Sunday.
Bhupathi and Paes then dominated to achieve India's maiden victory over Sweden in a live rubber.
The pair displayed the class that netted them three major titles together when the match resumed, the Swedish pair ahead 6-3 1-3 when bad light halted the match on Sunday.
Bhupathi and Paes, regular partners on the tour until parting ways four years ago due to personal differences, showed their touch and targeted Bjorkman, who suffered a slump in form.
Bjorkman, who lost serve overnight before play was stopped, dished out three double faults and staved off three set points before holding serve to make it 3-5.
The Indian pair kept on top with Paes in particular outstanding at the net to quell Swedish hopes of a comeback.
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