Tennis: Krishnan seals Cup triumph

RAMESH KRISHNAN held his nerve to steer India to a historic victory over France in the quarter-finals of the Davis Cup in Frejus, France, yesterday.

Krishnan was locked at 4-4 in a thrilling final set against Rodolphe Gilbert in the deciding singles when the match was stopped on Sunday evening because of bad light.

But the 32-year-old kept cool to take the final two games in 12 minutes to seal India's 3-2 triumph with a 2-6, 6-4, 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 win. Gilbert, making his Cup debut and only playing in the final singles because of an injury to Henri Leconte, succumbed to nerves in front of a partisan crowd.

'It's probably the biggest sporting success my country has had,' Krishnan said. 'It was a team success, based first on our mental strength. And then there was Paes.'

Krishnan singled out his team-mate, Leander Paes, who had set up victory with two singles victories earlier in the tie, against Henri Leconte and Andre Boetsch. India now face Australia in the semi-final from 24 to 26 September, while Sweden meet Germany.