India First Away Victory Against a European Nation in 32 Years Marks a Historic Moment for Indian Tennis
India created history on Saturday by defeating Switzerland 3-1 in their Davis Cup World Group I tie at the Swiss Tennis Arena in Biel. With this win, India sealed a place in the 2026 Davis Cup Qualifiers. The triumph is particularly special as it marks India’s first away Davis Cup victory against a European team in 32 years—the previous one coming in 1993 against France.
India Take Early Lead on Day One
India’s campaign began on a high note with two convincing singles wins.
Dhakshineshwar Suresh, making his Davis Cup debut, shocked Switzerland’s Jerome Kym in straight sets, giving India the first point.
Sumit Nagal, India’s top-ranked singles player, followed it up with another strong performance, winning his match and handing India a comfortable 2-0 lead after Day One.
Switzerland Fight Back in Doubles
Switzerland refused to go down without a fight and made a comeback in the doubles rubber.
The Swiss pair of Jakub Paul and Dominic Stricker outclassed India’s duo N. Sriram Balaji and Rithvik Bollipalli, winning 7-6(3), 6-4, 7-5.This win gave Switzerland hope, narrowing the scoreline to 2-1 and forcing India to push harder for the decisive point.
Nagal’s Heroics Seal the Tie
The pressure of sealing the contest fell on Sumit Nagal in the fourth rubber. Facing Henry Bernet, the 18-year-old Australian Open junior champion who replaced Jerome Kym, Nagal showed his class and composure.
He stormed through the match with a 6-1, 6-3 victory.This win ensured India’s triumph in the tie, extending the overall score to 3-1 and guaranteeing their place in next year’s Qualifiers.
Underdogs Outplay Higher-Ranked OpponentsIndia entered the tie ranked 37th in the Davis Cup standings, while Switzerland held the 9th seed. On paper, the Swiss team had the edge, but India turned the tables with fearless tennis and bold strategies.
Captain Rohit Rajpal’s Bold Decisions
Team captain Rohit Rajpal made several strategic choices that paid off handsomely.
With experienced player Yuki Bhambri unavailable due to injury, Rajpal placed faith in young debutant Dhakshineshwar Suresh, whose win proved pivotal.
The team’s balanced approach and tactical planning proved decisive against a stronger Swiss side.
Praise From Across the Country
The win has been hailed as a landmark for Indian tennis. Industrialist Anand Mahindra and several sports personalities applauded the team’s courage and composure in beating Switzerland on their home turf after more than three decades.
Significance of the Victory
The victory in Biel is more than just a qualification for the 2026 Davis Cup. It symbolizes a new wave of confidence for Indian tennis, proving that the team can compete with top-ranked nations on challenging European soil.
With a spot in the 2026 Davis Cup Qualifiers secured, the Indian team now faces the challenge of sustaining this momentum against even stronger opponents. The morale-boosting win, however, has reignited hopes for Indian tennis to shine on the world stage once again.
