Zagreb (Croatia), March 8 (IANS): India lost their Davis Cup qualifier 1-3 to Croatia after Sumit Nagal suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Marin Cilic in Zagreb.
India were kept in the tie by doubles pair Rohan Bopanna and Leander Paes, who beat Mate Pavic and Franko Skugor 6-3, 6-7, 7-5 in a match that lasted two hours and 21 minutes.
However, Nagal was no match for World no 37 Cilic and won just one game in his entire match. Cilic ended up winning 6-0, 6-1 and the match lasted just under an hour.
India will now have to compete in World Group I in September so as to get back to the qualifiers. The team has faltered at the same stage against formidable sides continuously over the past few years.
46-year-old Paes has extended his Davis Cup doubles win record to 45 games. He had announced in January that he would be ending his nearly three-decade long professional career at the end of the year.