The Netherlands took a 2-0 lead over India, winning the opening singles on the opening day of the Davis Cup World Group play-off tie in Zwolle, The Netherlands, on Friday.
After Rohan Bopanna lost a marathon five-setter to world No 14 French Open finalist Martin Verkerk, Prakash Amritraj was beaten by Sjeng Schalken in straight sets.
Verkerk needed four hours and 25 minutes to overcome a stiff challenge from Bopanna. He won 5-7, 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (9/7), 12-10.
Sjeng Schalken had a relatively easier time, beating Amritraj 6-3, 6-1, 6-1.
The 344th-ranked Bopanna was on the threshold of scoring a major victory as he upset the Dutchman's rhythm with his powerful serves and backhand. He sent only down 20 aces against 43 by Verkerk, but was consistent with his down-the-line passing shots, which left Verkerk helpless.
A double-fault by the Dutchman in the 11th game of the first set saw Bopanna serve out the 12th game and take the set at 7-5.
But Verkerk broke early in the second set and proceeded to take it at 6-3 and level the scores.
In the third, games went with serve till Bopanna broke in the 11th game and then held to take the set.
The fourth was a keen battle with both players breaking each other. Verkerk opened the set with a break but was broken by the Indian in the next game after double faulting. Both players dropped serve again as the set went into the tie-breaker, in which Verkerk's experience stood him in good stead.
If the fourth set was nail-biting, the final was a battle of wits as games went with serve. The Dutchman struggled to hold his serve while the Indian comfortably held his. But Bopanna faltered when it mattered most and was broken in the 22nd game as Verkerk took the set and match to the relief of the cheering home fans.
In the second singles, rookie Amritraj was no match for Schalken and went down tamely.
Verkerk and John van Lottum take on Bopanna and doubles specialist Mahesh Bhupathi in the doubles rubber on Saturday.
