Unforced errors cost me, says Yuki

Yuki Bhambri, who failed to rise to the occasion and suffered a straight-set bashing at the hands of Dusan Lajovic in the opening singles, today said unforced errors and failure to push the opponent hard had done in him in the Davis Cup World Group Playoff tie in Bangalore.

"I felt I did not push him enough in the first two sets. I had the lead, but overall I had a really bad game, committing a lot of errors on the forehand side," he told reporters at the post-match press conference.

Yuki, who missed a good part of the season due to a heel injury, could play well only in patches as world number 61 Lajovic cruised to a 6-3, 6-2, 7-5 win in two hours and four minutes at the Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association (KSLTA) stadium.

Yuki said he could not push the Serb enough after having a lead in first and third set, but instead he made him work hard for the points at crucial juncture of the match.

"I could not push him enough after gaining a lead. I could not stay out there. He made me work hard and made me do a lot more. I did not win long rallies, and that is where I fell short," he said.

Asked whether he faced any difficulty in controlling the ball due to altitude factor, Yuki said it is always tough to play in Bangalore where controlling shots is an issue.

"It did in fact, but that was something which I had always back at the mind. It is always tough playing in Bangalore where you can't control your shots," he said.

Asked he faced problem facing Dusan's second serves, Yuki said he won most of his points on his second serves as his first serves were difficult to get points.

"Not really, I think. That's where I won most of the points on his second serve. He used both the sides really well. His first serve was always difficult to get points."

Asked he could have mixed it up in his first serve to give a better fight, Yuki said he should have done that more in the match.

"I think the whole game I should have done that. I did that a bit more in the third set, but in bits and pieces in the match," he said.

Yuki felt he could have beaten Dusan from the baseline but did not happen, and that is where he missed out in the game.

Replying to a query, Yuki said the crowd in Bangalore was fantastic who were boisterous which kept him going in the match. "This crowd was fantastic, I thought. They were loud and that kept me going," he added.

Image: Yuki Bhambri

Photograph: PTI