Vikram, Mahesh power India into quarters

After slumping to a surprise defeat to lower-seeded Malaysia in the qualifying, it was a strong comeback for the eighth seeded India. Germany suffered a setback overnight when squad number two Raphael Kandra was taken ill. So, with the day's playing order being 2,1,3, it was the country's third string Rudi Rohrmuller, an unranked 26-year-old, who took to the court to face India's world No.61 Vikram Malhotra.

The number three player for India, Mahesh had come on to the court when the tie score read 1-1 and everything depended on him if India was to progress. The confident Indian faced an unsure opponent in Valentin Rapp and made the most of the situation. Controlling the volleys and varying the drives, Mahesh had the measure of Rapp to carve out a comfortable looking 11-6,11-7, 11-4 win, the whole exercise ending in 31 minutes and bringing up joy in the Indian camp.

After Vikram Malhotra had put India one up with his fluent 11-8, 11-1, 11-8 win over Rudi Rohrmuller, the focus shifted to the clash between the two number one players Saurav Ghosal and Simon Rosner. It was a close battle with fortunes oscillating either way. Both players traded two games each and in the decisive fifth game, Ghosal looked a spent force despite looking brilliant in patches. Rosner ran away with the game and the match 11-9, 4-11, 11-5, 6-11, 11-3 to restore parity.

National Coach Cyrus Poncha said, "Absolutely delighted. It was a great team effort. The boys were all charged up. The result showed it.”