India level the tie after dramatic day 1 at Davis Cup 2026 qualifiers vs Netherlands

In a thrilling start to the Davis Cup 2026 Qualifiers Round 1 tie at the S.M. Krishna Tennis Stadium in Bengaluru, India rallied to level the contest 1‑1 against the visiting Netherlands , riding on a sensational win from Dhakshineswar Suresh after an opening setback in singles.

India began with Sumit Nagal in the first singles rubber, but the 28‑year‑old couldn’t get the home crowd on their feet. Nagal was overwhelmed 0‑6 in the opening set by Dutch debutant Guy den Ouden, who controlled play with precision and force. Although Nagal fought back to take the second set 6‑4, the decisive third went the way of the Netherlands’ No. 162‑ranked player, sealing a 6‑0, 4‑6, 6‑3 victory and giving the visitors a 1‑0 lead.

With India trailing, all eyes turned to Dhakshineswar Suresh in the second singles match. The big‑serving Indian produced a remarkable performance, upsetting higher‑ranked Dutch No. 1 Jesper de Jong 6‑4, 7‑5 to bring India back on level terms at 1‑1. The 25‑year‑old’s confident baseline play and aggressive shot‑making impressed the home crowd, turning the tide for India on Day 1.

The tie now shifts to Day 2 (Sunday), when India’s experienced doubles pair Yuki Bhambri and N. Sriram Balaji will take on the Dutch duo Sander Arends and David Pel. The outcome of the remaining two reverse singles, Nagal vs de Jong and Suresh vs den Ouden, will decide which nation advances to the Davis Cup Qualifiers Round 2 in September.

India, ranked 33rd in the Davis Cup standings, entered the tie without the Netherlands’ top stars Tallon Griekspoor and Botic van de Zandschulp, giving the hosts a real shot at an upset on home soil.