India registered a landmark moment in tennis by defeating Switzerland 3-1 in Biel, securing its first victory over a European side in an away tie in 32 years. The triumph also booked the team’s maiden berth in the Davis Cup Qualifiers.
Nagal delivers in reverse singles
Sumit Nagal emerged the hero, clinching the decisive reverse singles against junior Australian Open champion Henry Bernet with a dominant 6-1, 6-3 win. His win came after the doubles pair of N Sriram Balaji and Rithvik Bollipalli lost a tight three-setter to Jakub Paul and Dominic Stricker earlier in the day.
Historic away success
India had taken a 2-0 lead on Friday following singles wins from Nagal and debutant Dhakshineshwar Suresh. The tie win marks India’s first away success against a European nation since beating France in 1993, when Leander Paes and Ramesh Krishnan spearheaded the team.
Reactions pour in
“This win means a lot. It’s been a while since we won in Europe. We worked very hard to be here and pushed each other. I’m very happy with the win,” Nagal said.
Business leader Anand Mahindra hailed the victory as “historic,” urging fans to celebrate the breakthrough moment. Social media was flooded with congratulatory messages, with supporters calling the triumph a turning point for Indian tennis.
Road to Qualifiers
The first round of the Davis Cup Qualifiers will be held in January 2026, offering India a chance to continue its progress on the global stage.
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