India got off to a perfect start against Togo as S. Mukund and Ramkumar Ramanathan won their respective singles rubbers to give the host a 2-0 lead against Togo on the first day of the Davis Cup World Group I Playoff tie at the DLTA Complex.

India did not miss its top singles player, Sumit Nagal, at all against a lower-ranked and vastly inexperienced opponent.

Mukund took down Liova Ayite Ajavon 6-2, 6-1 before Ramkumar Ramanathan brushed aside Thomas Setodji – the only ranked player amongst the visitors – 6-0, 6-2.

Mukund — playing in only his second Davis Cup tie since he cramped and hobbled off the court on his debut against Morocco in Lucknow in 2023 — began on a shaky note in front of 1500-odd spectators on a pleasant Saturday afternoon.

Ajavon tried to draw errors from Mukund by engaging him in long rallies with his one-handed backhand slice and drop shots. The plan worked initially, as the visitor earned the first break point of the match in the third game. Mukund managed to fend off that break point to hold his serve.

At the change of ends, skipper Rohit Rajpal tried to calm his nerves and suggested minor adjustments for his backhand.

Skipper’s words of encouragement seemed to be working as World No. 365 Mukund took control of the rubber with his big serves — hitting three aces — and consistent ground strokes. He went 40-0 up on Ajavon’s serve in the fourth game. While the Togolese saved the first two break points with a combination of big and wide serves followed by forehand winners into the open court, Mukund converted the third with an easy forehand volley after pinning the opponent to the baseline.

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Mukund broke Ajavon and sealed the opener 6-2 in 44 minutes after a forehand from the 25-year-old Togolese player sailed well beyond the baseline. Mukund turned to the spectators and showed a fist pump towards his mother in the front row.

The gulf in quality of the two players widened in the second set as the Indian raced to a 4-0 lead.

A slight lapse in concentration resulted in Mukund dropping his serve, but the 28-year-old bounced back and broke Ajavon before closing the match comfortably. 

In the second singles, World No. 406 Ramkumar dominated Setodji – a player ranked 800 places below him – from start to finish.

Setodji’s right-arm, his playing arm, was heavily strapped and the Togolese shook his arm multiple times after every lengthy rally. It took him until the third game of the second set to finally open his account. It turned out to be one of only two games the 29-year-old could win.

Ramkumar earned free points on his first serve, including 10 aces, and put on a clinical performance to wrap up the victory in just 50 minutes.

Doubles and the reverse singles will be played on Sunday.