Spain took a 2-0 lead in the World Group playoff tie against India after Feliciano Lopez defeated Ramkumar Ramanathan 6-4, 6-4,3-6, 6-1 before David Ferrer saw off Saketh Myneni 6-1, 6-2, 6-1 the first two singles matches at the RK Khanna stadium in New Delhi on Friday.Lopez had replaced Nadal after the latter suffered from stomach pain and a blister on his foot just before the match.In their first ever singles meeting, world number 203 Ramkumar was the first to serve and held comfortably in the first game of the match. Lopez, who is ranked 26th in the world, struggled in his first service game before managing to hold serve after a big serve.Lopez, 34, had a 5-8 singles record in the Davis Cup going into this match, and didnt get an early look in as Ramkumar held comfortably in the third game to lead 2-1.I knew it would be a tough match. He was suffering as well, but we were just trying to hang in there and do our best. Finally, I found a way to win the match and take the point for my country, Lopez said after the win. They love Rafa, and hes such a big idol around the world. Its an honour for us to have him in our team. Thank you, all of you, for coming to watch. We are hoping that you will come in tomorrow as well.Ramkumar, 21, appearing in only his third Davis Cup singles match, was solid at the baseline even as Lopez tried to serve and volley on the slow surface. The left-handed Lopez squandered two break point opportunities in the fifth game before capitalizing on the third break point with a passing shot down the line to lead 3-2.Guys, thank you. I was not able to get enough first serves. I was trying my best, but unfortunately I could not win. It was a good match, and I dont regret anything, Ramkumar said. I gave it my best and didnt win and I wish Saketh good luck. I couldnt return as well as I hoped. Id like to thank my parents.Lopez, who has made 59 consecutive Grand Slam appearances, second only to Roger Federer, tried to keep the rallies short and rushed to the net at every opportunity. The strategy did not always work as Lopez won only 14 per cent of the net points in the first set.There were no breaks of serve in the next four games as Lopez won the first set 6-4 in 41 minutes. Ramkumar committed 14 unforced errors in the first set whereas Lopez committed only 8. Ramkumars inexperience showed in the first game of the second set as he failed to put away a couple of volleys to lose serve. Lopez then unveiled an array of strokes with a lovely drop shot and some nicely placed serves in the ad court which dragged Ramkumar out of the court often.The next five games saw no breaks of serve as both the players held comfortably and Ramkumar showed greater energy and let out a couple of big roars after holding serve.Ramkumar faced a break point in the seventh game but managed to hold with a couple of good first serves. The second set saw only one break of serve as Lopez won the set 6-4 in 34 minutes.Lopezs serve proved to be the difference as he won 93 per cent of the first serve points whereas Ramkumar won only 62 per cent points on his first serve in the second set. The third set saw both players hold serve comfortably in the first five games but Ramkumar took a medical time out after the fifth game with what looked like a bout of cramps.Ramkumar came out charging after the time out as he had two break points opportunities in the eighth game and put Lopezs serve under pressure. He converted the third opportunity with a passing shot to lead 5-3.He then held serve to close out the set 6-3 in 40 minutes. The unforced errors mounted up for Lopez as he committed 10 to Ramkumars six in the third set.Lopez broke Ramkumar in the second game of the fourth set with a passing shot as Ramkumar continued to be uncomfortable at the net.Lopez ran away with the match in the fourth set as he broke Ramkumar again to go up 5-1. He then held serve to win the set 6-1 in 28 minutes.Ferrer doubles Spains leadDavid Ferrer gave Spain a commanding 2-0 lead at the end of the first set after he defeated Saketh Myneni 6-1, 6-2, 6-1 in one hour and 28 minutes in the second singles match of the day.Ferrer, ranked 13th in the world, was in imposing form from the beginning, breaking Mynenis serve twice in the first set to win it 6-1 in 22 minutes. Myneni was first broken in the fourth game when he committed a double fault on break point.The 34 year-old Ferrer, who has a 25-4 career record in singles matches in the Davis Cup, attacked from the baseline and kept the rallies short with 6 winners in the first set.The trend continued in the second set as the 28 year-old Myneni was broken twice in the first three games. The slow court helped Ferrers game as it neutralized Mynenis serve.Unlike Lopez, Ferrer rarely approached the net and controlled the rallies from the baseline. He raced to a 5-0 lead in the second set after breaking Myneni for the fifth time.Myneni got himself on the scoreboard in the second set after Ferrer committed a double fault to lose serve in the sixth game of the second set.Ferrer made Myneni scamper from corner to corner as he worked the ball around the court as he won the second set 6-2 in 34 minutes.World number 137 Saketh was broken twice early in the third set as Ferrer led 4-0. He then wrapped up the set 6-1 in 30 minutes.Dallas Stars Pro Shop . On June 12, just as the sun sets on the magnificent historical city of Sao Paulo the inventors, innovators and purveyors of “joga bonitowill” open their campaign. The opponent, Croatia and all its football might and will. As opposites do attract we are set for a corker of an opener. 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Custom Dallas Stars Jerseys . -- Jacksonville wide receiver Cecil Shorts will likely be a game-time decision whether hell play Sunday in the Jaguars home game against the San Diego Chargers.VIENNA -- Top-seeded Andy Murray lost a set for the first time in 11 matches as he beat Martin Klizan of Slovakia 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-0 in the opening round of the Erste Bank Open on Wednesday.The second-ranked Scot, who won the event two years ago, came off back-to-back tournaments wins without dropping a set in Beijing and Shanghai.I think I could have done better. For sure it was a tough match because Martin goes for his shots a lot, Murray said. Its not that easy to get into you rhythm. He moves very well, too.Murray saved three break points in the opening game but his serve came not under threat for the rest of the first set.He broke Klizan early in the second but dropped serve in an error-strewn game at 4-2. Murray was broken again when serving for the match at 6-5 and lost the tiebreaker from 5-4 up.I didnt serve that well the first two sets and that got me in trouble at the end of the second set, the Scot said. But I managed to serve better and raise my game in the third set.Murray conceded just two points on own serve in the final set. He will next play Gilles Simon of France.Also, Karen Khachanov of Russia joined Ivo Karlovic oof Croatia and John Isner of the United States in the quarterfinals.ddddddddddddKhachanov saved a set point and won the last five games to defeat Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia 6-2, 7-5 to set up a quarterfinal against Karlovic.The eighth-seeded Croat came back from 5-1 down in the final set to beat Damir Dzumhur of Bosnia-Hercegovina 7-6 (6), 4-6, 7-6 (5).Isner beat former champion Feliciano Lopez 7-6 (1), 3-6, 7-6 (2). The 27th-ranked American failed to break the Spaniards serve and missed a match point at 5-4 and again at 6-5 in the final set. Isner dominated the tiebreaker and closed out the win on his 31st ace.The match was so close. My serve helped me a lot, said Isner, who will play Murray or Simon in his fifth quarterfinal of the season.In first-round play, Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany rallied to beat Stephane Robert of France 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (3), and Albert Ramos-Vinolas of Spain advanced with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Italys Fabio Fognini, who had not lost to Ramos-Vinolas in eight previous matches. ' ' '