Hard to argue against that Finland was in the comfort position at this World Group I playoff tie in Espoo for Day 2. Leading 2-0 after the first day, the hosts had three shots to complete the victory against India at the Davis Cup by Rakuten. Especially after the pleasing performances of Ruusuvuori and Virtanen in singles, it would need another tennis wonder for the guests to be victorious in here.
Here is the matchup of Day 2 in Espoo. India replaced Divij Sharan in doubles by Ramkumar Ramanathan. With the decision in doubles and the other scores, Finland (if I did not do wrong) directly goes into the Madrid qualification in March 2022, while India needs to play against relegation to Group II at the same point in time. For the dead rubber, Jarkko Nieminen gave Patrik Niklas-Salminen the opportunity to play in front of the Espoo home crowd.
Finland | India | ||
Sa 14:00 | Harri Heliovaara /
Henri Kontinen |
Rohan Bopanna / Ramkumar Ramanathan |
7-6(2) 7-6(2) |
thereafter | Patrik Niklas-Salminen | Prajnesh Gunneswaran | 3-6 5-7 |
thereafter | Otto Virtanen | Ramkumar Ramanathan | not played |
The posting comes with 375 major sized pictures in a dedicated Davis Cup Finland vs. India tie gallery. See below for detailed links.
The Tennis Davis Cup coverage from Espoo is done in collaboration with
The match reports are equivalent to the one I wrote for Indian Tennis Daily. Thus, they are written from an Indian perspective.
Doubles: Harri Heliovaara / Henri Kontinen – Rohan Bopanna / Ramkumar Ramanathan 7-6(2) 7-6(2)
The story of the first set is really a short one: most of the games were very straight for the serving team – there has not even been a single breakpoint. Just very few chances for the one or the other teams to get close to it – our team felt to be most opportunistic in the seventh game of the first set, but finally, Heliovaara could stand the pressure. The result: tie-break. Finland took an early advantage here with a nice Kontinen return against Rohan’s second serve and after a double fault by Ramkumar, Finland was 5:1 in the lead at court change. They even scored another point against India’s serve. The second chance with Kontinen on the baseline was their fortuna – 7:2 after a little less than 50 minutes in a set, which had some nice rallyes, especially at the beginning of the set.
The second set started really well for our guys – after a straight serve by Ramkumar, we broke Kontinen’s serve. However, the lead just lasted one game, as Rohan could not hold his serve as well – the match was back at even strength. In the second set, all players, including the solid guns Kontinen and Bopanna had some shorter weaker periods – but finally, no nation could take another profit at opponent’s serve. Harri Heliovaara was likely the one which had most trouble in the ninth game of the second set – but a 0:40 point score and an additional break point for India was not enough – the hosts mastered this challenge. No more trouble in the second one as well – so that the second set finished as the first one did: in the ultimate tie-breaker.
Three tie-breakers this weekend, all three in favor of the Finns – and all quite straight. Finally, the discipline in which this double came to an end was mental strength and self-confidence. In multiple points, India had great chances to score, but handed over their virtue to the Scandinavians. A bit of trouble with the Finnish fans was just a small note after a very fair and atmospheric tie. The tie-breaker finished with a 7:2.
3rd Singles: Patrik Niklas-Salminen – Prajnesh Gunneswaran 3-6 5-7
Jarkko Nieminen gave Patrik Niklas-Salminen, his third option in singles, to have some match time in this dead rubber. Prajnesh had the chance to show a better performance than on day one against a player in the 400’s of the ATP rankings. The match started with a pleasing performance of the Indian, who broke Niklas-Salminen at his first service game and felt to be in the zone from the very beginning. But the Finnish contest, who struggled that much at the beginning, gained more confidence during the remaining first set. Vice versa, Prajnesh felt to loose too much control – his opponent had, however, no chance to get back into the set.
The voice of the second set was the femal voice in the Hawk-Eye Live automated linesman system. Both players struggled with their precision, there were quite many unforced errors on both side. Niklas-Salminen even had some chances against India’s serve to force the match tie-break (which is applied as a third set replacement in dead rubbers). Finally, it was Prajnesh’s higher level of play and experience which prevented this sportive overtime. At the very last game before a potential tie-break of the second set, the host nation’s player struggled too much with his serve, so that India had a pleasing ending after struggling the two days of Espoo before.
Finland vs. India Davis Cup 2021 – Galleries
All pictures from Espoo are gathered in a dedicated gallery group. Here are the links to the individual galleries, split by match:
- Finland vs. India – Singles #1: Virtanen – Gunneswaran
- Finland vs. India – Singles #2: Ruusuvuori – Ramanathan
- Finland vs. India – Doubles: Heliovaara/Kontinen – Bopanna/Ramanathan
- Finland vs. India – Singles #3: Niklas-Salminen – Gunneswaran
- Finland vs. India – Practice Pictures
Flyctory.com Sports Coverage
Here are all different postings about all kinds of sports:

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CC 2024: Floorball Köniz Bern – Tatran Stresovice 2-5 (1-1, 1-1, 0-3)

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NHL Schedule 2023-24 released – Here are my suggested Trips

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Dümptener Füchse – ETV Lady Piranhhas Hamburg 7-4 (3-0, 1-0, 3-4)

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Angry Birds Mini Golf (American Dream, East Rutherford NJ)

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Visiting the Lillehammer 1994 Olympic Sites in 2022

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Davis Cup Norway vs. India: Norway seals the Victory in doubles already

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Davis Cup: Norway vs. India – Preview

NHL Schedule 2022-23 released – Some suggested Icehopping Itineraries

German Floorball Under 15 Girls – Final: Red Devils Wernigerode – Dümptener Füchse 5-4 SD (1-1, 3-3, 1-x)

German Floorball Under 15 Girls – P3 Match: SG Weissenfels/Jena – FBC Havel 6-9 (1-5)

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UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex (Pictured Story)

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Watching the New York Islanders at UBS Arena

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Beijing 2022 – No Flyctory.com Medal Count, Just Thoughts…

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A Match of the Mississauga Steelheads at Paramount Fine Foods Centre

German Cup: DJK Holzbüttgen – PSV 90 Black Wolves Dessau 14:1 (4:0, 4:0, 6:1)

Toronto Maple Leafs At Scotiabank Arena

HC Ambri-Piotta at Gotthard-Arena (Gottardo Arena)


Visiting Jokerit Helsinki at Hartwall Arena


F-Liiga Women: SB-Pro Nurmijärvi – TPS Turku 2-5 (1-3, 0-2, 1-0)


F-Liiga Women: EräViikingit – SSRA 7-2 (3-1, 1-0, 3-1)


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The Flyctory.com-Style Medal Count of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics


Some weird sports I discovered during Covid-19


A San Jose Sharks Match at SAP Center


Visiting the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center


Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center Anaheim


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bett1HULKS Championship 2020: Gilles Simon (FRA) – Denis Shapovalov (CAN) 6-1 4-6 6-2


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bett1HULKS Championship: Jordan Thompson (AUS) – Gilles Simon (FRA) 3-6 5-7


bett1HULKS Championship 2020: Sumit Nagal (IND) – Miomir Kecmanovic (SRB) 6-3 (4)6-7 1-6


bett1HULKS Indoors 2020: Hubert Hurkacz (POL) vs. Mischa Zverev (GER) 6-4 6-3


bett1HULKS Indoors 2020: Davidovich Fokina / Verdasco (ESP) – Masur / Molleker (GER) 3-6 6-1 10-8


bett1HULKS Indoors 2020: Gonzales (MEX) / K. Skupski (GBR) – Nielsen (DEN) / Puetz (GER) 4-6 6-1 10-5


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The Big Three of Tennis Men Singles – Unique Dominance?


Taking a (Summer) Taxi Ride on the Königssee Bobsleigh Track


Visiting T-Mobile Arena Las Vegas (Vegas Golden Knights)


Women Soccer Bundesliga is back – But some Girls score in a different Way


Back To Soccer-Country: Germany


Visiting Indianapolis Motor Speedway


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Visiting PPG Paints Arena (Pittsburgh)


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Weird Al & Grass Court Tennis 2019 (Day 4 – 20th July 2019)


Very Important Postings – January to June 2019


The Scherz-Tour – A Different RheinEnergieSTADION Cologne Tour


UHC Laupen U21 – Red Ants Rychenberg U21 7:1 (2:1, 4:0, 1:0)


SSF Dragons Bonn – TV Schriesheim 5:8 (1:1, 3:1, 1:6)


Chelsea FC and Stamford Bridge Tour


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A Visit at the NHL Stadium Series 2019


WFCQ 2019: Germany – Russia 8:4 (4:1, 3:3, 1:0)


WFCQ 2019: Finland – Austria 37:0 (12:0, 10:0, 15:0)


WFCQ 2019: Hungary – Netherlands 4:1 (1:1, 1:0, 2:0)


WFCQ 2019: Slovakia vs. Latvia 5:3 (2:1, 3:2, 0:0)


WFCQ 2019: Netherlands – Latvia 2:11 (1:5, 0:2, 1:4)


WFCQ 2019: Slovakia – Hungary 12:1 (3:0, 5:1, 4:0)


WFCQ 2019: Russia – Finland 1:18 (1:2, 0:13, 0:3)


WFCQ 2019: Austria – Spain 5:5 (2:0, 3:2, 0:3)


WFCQ 2019: Austria – Russia 4:13 (1:3, 1:5, 2:5)


WFCQ 2019: Netherlands – Slovakia 2:8 (0:1, 1:5, 1:2)


WFCQ 2019: Spain – Germany 3:6 (0:1, 1:3, 2:2)


European World Floorball Championship Qualification – A Preview


Red Lions Frauenfeld – Kloten-Dietlikon Jets 3:12 (0:4, 1:5, 2:3)


Floorball Riders DBR – UH Appenzell 5:4 (3:2, 2:1, 0:1)


Täby FC – Pixbo Wallenstam IBK 7-0 (3-0, 2-0, 2-0)


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CC 2019: Men’s Final: Storvreta IBK – SC Classic 3-10 (1-3, 1-3, 1-4)


CC 2019: Women’s Final: Vitkovice – IKSU 3-8 (1-2, 2-4, 0-2)


CC 2019: Men’s Place 3: Florbal Mlada Bolesav – Floorball Köniz 2-9 (1-4, 1-3, 0-2)


CC 2019: Storvreta IBK – Florbal Mlada Bolesav 10-5 (2-0, 3-3, 5-2)


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CC 2019: IKSU – Piranha Chur 11-5 (6-1, 1-1, 4-3)


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CC 2019: SC Classic – Floorball Köniz 7-1 (3-0, 1-1, 3-0)


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Red Ants Rychenberg – UHC Waldkirch-St.Gallen U21A 4:3 (2:1, 1:1, 1:1)


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Davis Cup Serbia vs. India: Day 2


Davis Cup Serbia vs. India: Day 1


Davis Cup Serbia vs. India: Preview


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Floorball Bundesliga: DJK Holzbüttgen – ETV Piranhhas Hamburg 2:7 (1:3, 0:4, 1:0)


Visiting the US Open 2018


US Open (Tennis) – 1st September 2018


US Open (Tennis) – My Day – 31st August 2018


Hockey Hall of Fame


SV Menden – 1. FC Köln 0:1 (0:1) (2018 pre-season)


Life of a Women Soccer Legend


Very Important Postings – Flyctory.com’s 1st Half 2018


Finnish Superfinal (Men): Classic – Happee 6:2 (0:2, 4:0, 2:0)


Finnish Superfinal (Women): Classic – SB-Pro 2:3 (0:0, 2:2, 0:1)


Atlanta 1996 – 22 Years later


Ode to my Superhero – Leander Paes


The Future of Winter Games


My Medal Count Winner 2018: Canada


Women WFC 2017 Finals: Sweden – Finland 6:5 SO
Superb 2021 Travel Reviews
Here are all my travel reviews released in 2021, which got a rating better than 4.5:


The Berlin Tränenpalast (“Palace of Tears”)


Flying Norlandair from Akureyri (AEY) (not) to Grimsey (GRY)


High Tea at At.mosphere Burj Khalifa Dubai


Delta Hotels by Marriott Toronto


Iceland Road F347 (Kerlingarfjallavegur) and Hveradalir


Scala Museum Milan



HC Ambri-Piotta at Gotthard-Arena (Gottardo Arena)


Aurora Reykjavik


Schlossbergbahn Graz


Car Rental Review – Hertz Helsinki Airport (HEL)


ME Hotel Dubai


Car Rental Review – Blue Car Keflavik Airport (KEF) – Dacia Duster 4WD


Doge’s Palace Venice


Expo 2020 in Dubai – My General Overview


Hilton Berlin


Hotel Alpina Wellness & Spa (Kössen)


Leonardo Hotel Düsseldorf Airport (Ratingen)


Flying With Lübeck Air


Auto & Traktor Museum Bodensee (Lake Constance)


Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ)


Museum Luciano Pavarotti House


Myvatn – Natural Thermal Pool in Northern Iceland


Hampton by Hilton Warsaw City Centre


Auschwitz Concentration Camp


Car Rental Review – Hertz Salzburg Airport (SZG) – Mercedes GLE 350d


Schleusenpark Waltrop-Henrichenburg – History of Naval Locks


Saga Lounge Kefklavik (KEF)


Arnold Schwarzenegger Museum


Sharjah Aquarium


One Hour Spree Cruise in Berlin with BWSG


Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt Airport


German Oil Museum Wietze


Sky Lagoon Reykjavic / Kopavogur


Hyatt Regency Cologne


European Hansa Museum Lübeck


Hotel Nord (Guardamiglio, Lombardy)


Lübeck Airport (LBC)


Mercure Hotel Hannover City


Dutch Freedom Museum (Groesbeek)


IntercityHotel Hamburg Main Station


The Myth of Germania – A Berlin Underground Exhibition


Moxy Cologne Bonn Airport


InterContinental Dubai Festival City – One Bedroom Suite


German Rail Lounge / DB Lounge Frankfurt Airport (FRA)


MyWellness Cologne – Renting a Private Spa Experience


The View At The Palm (Dubai)


Novotel Suites Hannover City


IntercityHotel Saarbruecken


(Licence Free) Boat Rental at Seashore Boats (Santa Ponsa, Mallorca)


Pullman Sharjah


Crumlin Road Gaol Belfast


National Monument Camp Vught


Naturwildpark Granat (Haltern am See, Germany)


ESO Supernova Munich – Garching


Bergisches Museum for Mining, Craft & Trade Bensberg


Emsflower – A Gardening Giant & Adventure Park


Flying the PAD Aviation Embraer Phenom 300


Stiegl-Brauwelt Salzburg – A Brewery Museum


Resistance Museum Amsterdam


German Customs Museum Hamburg


Etihad Museum Dubai


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German Movie Museum Frankfurt


Lyon Air Museum Santa Ana


Singapore Zoo


Henry B. Plant Museum Tampa


Schloss Burg – a Gem in Bergisches Land


Riding the Dubai Ferry


Jurong Bird Park (Singapore)


Salzburg Panorama Museum


Markus Wasmeier Open Air Museum


Heineken Experience Amsterdam


Dubai Garden Glow


Royal Delft Museum


Conrad Hotel London St. James


taku Dining Box in Cologne – Gourmet Food at Home


Obersalzberg Documentation Center


Siku & Audi-Museum Höing (Stadtlohn, Germany)


The Dutch Museumkaart – One Year of Culture and History (almost) for free in the Netherlands


Aviodrome Lelystad (Netherlands)

