New Delhi: India outplayed Japan 2-0 in the final of the Asia-Oceania junior Davis Cup tennis tournament in scorching heat at the DLTA complex here on Saturday.

India dropped the only set in the competition when Saurabh Singh was taken to three sets by Motoaki Kita before winning 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 before Yuki Bhambri beat Yasutaka Uchiyama in straight sets, 6-4, 6-1. The searing heat took a toll of the Japanese. Considering the conditions, Kita did well to snatch a set from Saurabh.

The Japanese player began shakily, playing loose shots and Saurabh took the first set comfortably. Kita fought back in the second, getting a break in the very first game and kept the pressure on Saurabh, breaking his serve again. In the decisive third set, Saurabh was all over Kita and let him hold his serve only once to easily win the set and match.

It took World No.5 Yuki Bhambri some time to gauge Uchiyama's game but once he got the measure of the Japanese there was no stopping him. Bhambri snatched an early break, but Uchiyama soon broke back in the fourth game to level 2-2. The Japanese with his booming serve and netplay managed to put Bhambri on the defensive.

However, Uchiyama was erratic with his returns, particularly on his forehand and Bhambri fully exploited the weakness to get the decisive break in the seventh game.

Yuki began the second set strongly and broke the Japanese in the third game. He paced his game well and charged the net more often. Yuki went on to break the Japanese in the fifth and seventh game to take the set and match.

Source : IANS