India, March 16 -- A second serve, aimed towards the body, produced a regulation backhand return down the centre of the court. Dhakshineswar Suresh took a few quick split-steps to his left, squared up and struck a forehand at a sharp angle that gave Guy Den Ouden no chance of reaching the ball.

With that swift move, the 25-year-old from Madurai won his third consecutive Davis Cup match in straight-sets. Each win - beginning with the tie-clincher against Jerome Kym in the fourth rubber against Switzerland last year - came over a higher ranked opponent.

The latest triumph, which helped India beat the Netherlands 3-2 last month to secure a spot in the second round of the Davis Cup World Group Qualifiers, added more weight to the claim of D...