Former champions Serbia will remain in the World Group of the Davis Cup after Filip Krajinovic secured a 3-2 win over hosts India Monday in a rain-interrupted play-off tie.
The 22-year-old Krajinovic, ranked 107 in the world, breezed past No 153 Yuki Bhambri 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in the decisive reverse singles that had been halted by bad weather on Sunday.
The Serbian, who was leading 6-3, 4-4 at the rain break, needed just an hour to wrap up the match and help his depleted team retain their place in next year’s elite 16-nation World Group.
Serbia – the 2010 champions – were without world No 1 Novak Djokovic, Janko Tipsarevic and Viktor Troicki for the play-off tie in Bangalore.
Djokovic pulled out citing fatigue and family reasons after being stunned by Japan’s Kei Nishikori in the US Open semi-final. Tipsarevic and Troicki were injured.
The Serbs were in the play-offs for the first time since 2007 after they lost to Roger Federer’s Switzerland in the World Group first round in February.
Serbia had won both the opening singles on Friday before India fought back to draw level by winning the doubles on Saturday and the first reverse singles through Somdev Devvarman on Sunday.
Serbia’s non-playing captain Bogdan Obradovic saluted his new-look team that made light of the absence of the top stars.
“These boys have taken time off from the circuit where they make their living to help their country stay in the World Group,” said Obradovic.
“We knew that beating India in their own backyard would not be easy, so the team came here early to get used to the conditions. They practised hard with great dedication and deserved this win.
“It just goes to show how important Davis Cup is to our nation.”
India will remain in the Asia-Oceania zonal competition for the third year in a row.
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Coming soon
Torno Subito by Massimo Bottura
When the W Dubai – The Palm hotel opens at the end of this year, one of the highlights will be Massimo Bottura’s new restaurant, Torno Subito, which promises “to take guests on a journey back to 1960s Italy”. It is the three Michelinstarred chef’s first venture in Dubai and should be every bit as ambitious as you would expect from the man whose restaurant in Italy, Osteria Francescana, was crowned number one in this year’s list of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants.
Akira Back Dubai
Another exciting opening at the W Dubai – The Palm hotel is South Korean chef Akira Back’s new restaurant, which will continue to showcase some of the finest Asian food in the world. Back, whose Seoul restaurant, Dosa, won a Michelin star last year, describes his menu as, “an innovative Japanese cuisine prepared with a Korean accent”.
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal
The highly experimental chef, whose dishes are as much about spectacle as taste, opens his first restaurant in Dubai next year. Housed at The Royal Atlantis Resort & Residences, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal will feature contemporary twists on recipes that date back to the 1300s, including goats’ milk cheesecake. Always remember with a Blumenthal dish: nothing is quite as it seems.
FIXTURES
Thu Mar 15 – West Indies v Afghanistan, UAE v Scotland
Fri Mar 16 – Ireland v Zimbabwe
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Mon Mar 19 – West Indies v Zimbabwe
Tue Mar 20 – UAE v Afghanistan
Wed Mar 21 – West Indies v Scotland
Thu Mar 22 – UAE v Zimbabwe
Fri Mar 23 – Ireland v Afghanistan
The top two teams qualify for the World Cup
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The top-placed side out of Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong or Nepal will be granted one-day international status. UAE and Scotland have already won ODI status, having qualified for the Super Six.
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4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
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