The Indian Davis Cup team is gearing up for a tough but exciting World Group play-off tie against Sweden, scheduled for September 14 and 15 in Stockholm. Despite the challenging indoor hard court conditions, newly appointed coach Ashutosh Singh exudes confidence in his team’s chances.
Singh highlights the strength of the Indian team, particularly Sumit Nagal, who currently holds the 73rd ranking. Nagal’s recent success, including wins at the ATP event in Bastad, gives him a psychological edge over Sweden’s top player, Elias Ymer, ranked 223rd. Although Ymer has defeated Nagal in their previous encounters, Nagal has been performing at his best this season, having participated in all four Grand Slams and the Paris Olympics.
“Sumit has been doing great this season. He has played all the four Grand Slams and the Olympics in Paris. Has done remarkably well to reach his career-best rank. He comes into the tie with that confidence,” said Ashutosh.
The coach also emphasizes the experience of Ramkumar Ramanathan, who has been competing in Challenger events, and the readiness of Niki Poonacha and Siddharth Vishwakarma. The team is further strengthened by the presence of doubles specialist Sriram Balaji, who is prepared to step up for both singles and doubles play.
In addition, the team includes young talent like Aryan Shah, who will be traveling as a reserve player. This move reflects the captain, Rohit Rajpal’s, focus on developing new talent.
Ashutosh underlines the importance of team cohesion and preparation. The team will gather in Stockholm a week before the tie to acclimatize to the conditions. The team will also conduct training sessions for Vishwakarma and Shah in Delhi prior to their departure.
Despite acknowledging the Swedish team’s strength, Ashutosh stresses that rankings are not the sole determinant of success in Davis Cup. He believes the Indian team has the potential to win and is eager to showcase its abilities on the international stage.
The team’s managerial responsibilities have been entrusted to another experienced tennis coach, Chandra Bhushan, who is serving as the administrator at the Dr. Shyama Prasad Swimming Pool in Delhi.
With a blend of experience, talent, and determination, the Indian Davis Cup team is set to make a strong showing in Stockholm, seeking to heal past wounds and leave their mark on this prestigious international competition.
