The Indian Davis Cup tennis group with the Cost d’affaires of Indian Embassy in Stockholm, Rakesh Tiwari.
| Picture Credit score: Particular Association
It was simply the most effective probability ever within the historical past of Davis Cup for India to attain over Sweden. Nonetheless, the non-availability of the main singles and doubles gamers has eroded the energy of the Indian group, that takes on Sweden within the World Group tennis tie on indoor laborious courts in Stockholm on September 14 and 15.
“If we had Sumit Nagal and Yuki Bhambri within the group, we might have had a slight edge over Sweden. Now the tie appears to be fairly even”, mentioned captain Rohit Rajpal from Stockholm on Wednesday.
“Am trying on the Swedish group apply proper now. Rankings are very misleading. Having watched a couple of Davis Cup ties within the Scandinavian area, I did really feel that we might have a greater probability with Sumit Nagal within the aspect. He’s a tricky grinder and never straightforward for anybody outdoors the top-200 to beat him”, noticed Rohit.
Conceding that Ramkumar Ramanathan was fairly skilled each in Davis Cup and on the Tour, and had overwhelmed some high gamers, Rohit mentioned, “Ram can do loads with the ball. However his outcomes will not be that nice within the final two months. And it’s a matter of confidence coming into the tie”.
Making the gamers practice for singles, Rohit mentioned that the load would taper off quickly, to maintain the gamers contemporary for the match days.
“We’ve got restricted selection. We’ve got to repeat gamers in singles and doubles. Most of our gamers are competing in doubles within the skilled circuit. Am extraordinarily completely happy for Siddharth Vishwakarma, Aryan Shah and Manas Dhamne”, mentioned Rohit, including that he felt Aryan and Manas “shaping nicely” as the way forward for the group.
The captain identified that the indoor laborious courtroom, in a big “previous lovely stadium” that has been offered out for the tie, was enjoying medium tempo and low bounce.
“It’s each good and dangerous. We are going to attempt to maintain the ball low. On the identical time, we is not going to be defensive. We do know that it’s the aggressive participant who takes the match away”, he mentioned.
“Bjorn Borg’s son, Leo has moved to be the No.2 participant now. Heard that other than Borg, different high gamers of the previous, Mats Wilander and Thomas Enqvist, would even be watching the tie. I are likely to current it as the house stress for Sweden. Their doubles group is nice, much like ours,” noticed Rohit.
The captain mentioned that the tie was extensive open and “whoever rises to the event” would clinch it.
The tie is predicted to be broadcast dwell on tv and efforts are on to get the telecast on Doordarshan as nicely.
Revealed – September 11, 2024 06:34 pm IST
