In Tennis, Matteo Berrettini defeated India's top-ranked player Prajnesh Gunneswaran in straight sets to hand former champions Italy a 2-0 lead in the second rubber of the Davis Cup World Group qualifier tie in Kolkata today. 
 
Earlier, Andreas Seppi made short work of Ramkumar Ramanathan 6-4, 6-2 to give Italy the lead on the grass courts. 
 
Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharan now have to pick up a win against Marco Cecchinato and Simone Bolelli in the doubles match tomorrow for the hosts to keep the tie alive. 
 
Berrettini, who was preferred ahead of top-ranked Marco Cecchinato to play the singles, won 6-4, 6-3 in convincing fashion. The tone was set from the beginning as Berrettini, World No 53 in singles ranking, took the lead with an early break in the first game of the first set. 
 
In the second game, the 22-year old Berrettini, who is making his Davis Cup debut, saved a break point to hold his serve and extend the lead. Prajnesh, ranked at a career best of 102, slowly eased into the match by staying within sight of Berrettini at 4-3.