In a historic victory, the Indian men's tennis team defeated Switzerland 3-1 in their Davis Cup 2025 World Group I tie in Biel on Saturday. This marked India's first away win against a European nation in 32 years, with their last such triumph coming against France in 1993. The victory was sealed by Sumit Nagal, who delivered a dominant performance to beat Henry Bernet 6-1, 6-3 in the final reverse singles rubber. The win, an upset over the ninth-seeded Swiss team, earns India a spot in the 2026 World Group Qualifiers.
Sumit Nagal powers India to historic Davis Cup feat on Swiss soil
India established its control over the tie on Saturday at the Swiss Tennis Arena. In his Davis Cup debut, Dhakshineswar Suresh pulled off a major upset against home favorite Jerome Kym, winning 7-6(4), 6-3. The 626th-ranked Suresh showcased impressive poise, saving numerous break points before ultimately securing the match in straight sets.
Sumit Nagal, India's top player, continued the team's strong start by defeating two-time Olympian Marc-Andrea Huesler with a score of 6-3, 7-6(4). Nagal broke Huesler's serve twice in the first set and showed composure to win the second set tiebreak, giving India a commanding 2-0 lead after Day 1. However, the Swiss doubles pair of Jakub Paul and Henry Bernet fought back on Saturday, defeating India's N. Sriram Balaji and Rithvik Bollipalli to narrow India’s lead to 2-1.
With the tie in the balance, Nagal once again proved his clutch performance. Facing the 18-year-old Bernet in the decisive reverse singles match on Saturday, the Indian number one secured an early break and controlled the match from the baseline. This victory not only sealed the tie for India but also marked their first away win against a European nation in the Davis Cup since 1993. This historic win, which is also India’s first away success under the revamped Davis Cup format, is a testament to the team's resilience and depth.
With this victory, India has secured its place in the 2026 World Group Qualifiers first round. In contrast, Switzerland will have to compete in the 2026 World Group I play-offs. As three-time Davis Cup runners-up (1966, 1974, 1987), India will now aim to build on this momentum as they continue their quest to return to the elite stages of the competition.