Two five-set matches, two losses and India lost the advantage to Brazil on the first day of the Davis Cup World Group Play-Off at the SDAT stadium in Nungambakkam on Friday.

It was Rohan Bopanna who played the first match against Thomaz Bellucci. The world number 27, Bellucci, was quite a handful for Bopanna. Bopanna could have easily won the match when he had two match points in the final set. But he let the initiative down and after 4 hours and 48 minutes, he lost the match. The score-line read 6-7, 7-6, 7-5, 4-6, 10-8.

When the Indian camp was already down after losing a tight match, they were in for more trouble when Somdev Devverman lost his match to Ricardo Mello. Both players played safe from the baseline and struggle hard to score points. Somdev eventually lost to Mello 4-6, 6-2, 6-7, 6-2, 6-4.

The Indian pair Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes will take on Marcelo Melo and Bruno Soares on Saturday. The match will start at 3 PM IST.

The results: Thomaz Bellucci (Bra) bt Rohan Bopanna (Ind) 6-7(2), 7-6(7), 7-5, 4-6, 10-8; Ricardo Mello (Bra) bt Somdev Devvarman (Ind) 4-6, 6-2, 6-7(3), 6-2, 6-4.