(March 5, 2010) No Nikolay Davydenko, no problem for Russia.

Mikhail Youzhny did not drop serve in dismissing Rohan Bopanna, 6-4, 6-2, 6-3, to stake host Russia to a 2-0 lead against visiting India in today's Davis Cup World Group first-round on the hard court of Moscow's Luzhniki Arena.

Playing without its top-ranked player, World No. 6 Davydenko, who is sidelined with a wrist injury, Russia moved within one victory of reaching the quarterfinals for the 11th time in the past 12 years.

Russia has won its last 16 home ties dating back to 1996 and got off to a strong start thanks to a surprise starter.

Scheduled starter Igor Andreev was forced out of the first match due to a knee injury so Russian captain Shamil Tarpischev turned to 107th-ranked Igor Kunitsyn.

Competing in his second career Davis Cup singles match, Kunitsyn responded with a 6-7(6), 7-6(4), 6-3, 6-4 comeback victory over a stubborn Somdev Devvarman. The match lasted three hours, 35 minutes.

A precise Devvarman patiently built a one-set, 5-2 lead and had a set point in the eighth game of the second set. had he converted, Devvarman would have had an imposing two-set lead, but the World No. 128 could not finish points off and Kunitsyn, who consistently took more risk throughout the match, rallied to beat Devvarman for the third time in as many meetings.

"I had him where I wanted to and we both played a pretty good first set," said Devvarman. "Things started to go my way, but I wasn’t able to close it out as I would have liked to."

It was Kunitsyn's first career Davis Cup singles win; he lost to Israel's Harel Levy in straight sets in his singles debut in the 2009 quarterfinals in Tel Aviv.

"It was an exciting match," said Kunitsyn. "It’s the first time I ever opened a Davis Cup tie for Russia, the first time I ever played a live singles match, it was a day of firsts for me."

A day that began with Kunitsyn getting the nod on short notice.

"It was a surprise for me and there is no way you can prepare yourself with just an hour to go before your match," Kunitsyn said. "We are used to having at least one day, or 12 hours to prepare."

The veteran Indian doubles team of Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes will be heavy favorites to stave off elimination when they face Kunitsyn and Teimuraz Gabashvili in Saturday's doubles match. 

Youzhny plays Devvarman and Kunitsyn will face Bopanna in Sunday's reverse singles matches.

The winner of the Russia-India tie will play either Argentina or Sweden in the July 9-11th Davis Cup quarterfinals.