Bopanna ends Davis Cup career on a high, wins with Yuki in final tie
Lucknow (PTI): Rohan Bopanna brought the curtains down on his Davis Cup career with a comfortable straight set win with Yuki Bhambri, a victory that put India ahead 2-1 in the World Group II tie against Morocco, here on Sunday.
The 43-year-old Bopanna, coming out to play his 33rd and final tie, and Bhambri raced to a 6-2 6-1 win over Elliot Benchetrit and Younes Lalami Laaroussi in one hour and 11 minutes at the Mini Stadium.
Sumit Nagal now need to win against Yassine Dlimi to close the tie in India's favour.
An emotional Bopanna rested his India-shirt on the court, marking the end of his Davis Cup career in which he played 33 ties, winning a total of 23 matches including 13 in doubles.
Watched by his family and friends, Bopanna acknowledged their and fans' appreciation and blew kisses towards the stands.
About 50 of Bopanna's family and friends flew to Lucknow to watch him one last time in Davis Cup.
They were wearing T-shirts that had a tri-colour-waving Bopanna picture printed.
Younes could not hold his serve even once in the match while the Indians faced just one break point when Bhambri served and saved that too.
The Indians drew the first blood when they broke Younes. On a Bhambri backhand return at 30-15, Younes netted the volley. Bhambri smashed a volley winner on Younes' return to earn the first breakpoint.
Benchetrit went for an angled volley winner on a Bhambri return but the ball went out as Indians led 3-1. Bopanna came out serving the next game at love to make it 4-1.
Younes' serve came under attack once again in game eight. Bopanna found a winner at 15-15 and the Morocco player served a double fault to be down by two break points.
Yuki converted the set point with a volley winner on a feeble Younes return. The first set ended in a jiffy, just 34 minutes as the Indians lost five point on their serve.
Bopanna's big serve was at work in the second set too as he began the proceedings with a comfortable hold but Bhambri's serve came under pressure in the third game when at 30-all, his half-volley pick up flew out of the court.
The Indians, though, saved the break point.
Younes was up 40-0 on his serve in game four but lost his way, serving double fault and making a lot of unforced errors to lose his serve for the third time in the match.
Bhambri served out the match.
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Man arrested for raping, impregnating 16-year-old daughter in Gadag
Gadag (Karnataka), Apr 9 (PTI): A 51-year-old man was arrested for allegedly raping and impregnating his minor daughter, police said on Wednesday.
The matter came to light on Monday after the 16-year-old girl was taken to hospital by her mother after she complained of swelling in legs, they said.
After scanning and blood tests, the doctor confirmed to the victim's mother that her daughter was 31 weeks pregnant. When the woman confronted her daughter, she revealed that her father was allegedly sexually abusing and raping her over the past one year when no one was at home. He also threatened her with dire consequences if she revealed it to anyone in the family, a senior police officer said.
"Based on the victim's mother's complaint at Mulagund police station, we registered a case of rape and threat under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and arrested the accused father on Tuesday," he said.
The girl has been given counselling and further decision will be taken after a thorough medical examination, police said.
The victim has an elder sister aged 20 who is working as a nurse at a hospital here and a younger brother who is studying in class 5, police said, adding further investigation is underway.
