India’s chances of triumphing over Sweden in the Davis Cup have taken a significant hit due to the unavailability of their top singles and doubles players. The absence of Sumit Nagal and Yuki Bhambri has undoubtedly eroded the strength of the Indian team, who are set to face Sweden in the World Group tennis tie on September 14th and 15th, on indoor hard courts in Stockholm.
Captain Rohit Rajpal, speaking from Stockholm on Wednesday, acknowledged the impact of their absence. “If we had Sumit Nagal and Yuki Bhambri in the team, we would have had a slight edge over Sweden. Now the tie seems to be quite even,” he said. Rajpal also observed that rankings can be misleading in the context of Davis Cup matches, and felt that India’s chances would have been stronger with Nagal in the lineup. “He’s a tough grinder, not easy for anyone outside the top-200 to beat,” he stated.
While acknowledging Ramkumar Ramanathan’s experience in both the Davis Cup and on the Tour, Rajpal highlighted the inconsistency in Ramanathan’s recent performance. “Ram can do a lot with the ball. But his results aren’t that great in the last two months. It’s a matter of confidence coming into the tie,” he admitted.
Despite the challenges, Rajpal is focused on preparing his team for the upcoming match. The captain has been focusing on singles training, but plans to reduce the workload leading up to the match days to ensure the players are fresh. “We have limited choices. We have to repeat players in singles and doubles. Most of our players compete in doubles on the professional circuit. I’m extremely happy for Siddharth Vishwakarma, Aryan Shah, and Manas Dhamne,” Rajpal said, highlighting the potential of the young players. He expressed confidence in Aryan and Manas, believing they are “shaping well” and represent the future of the team.
Rajpal also analyzed the playing surface, describing it as a medium pace, low bounce court in a large “old beautiful stadium” that has been sold out for the tie. “It’s both good and bad. We’ll try to keep the ball low. At the same time, we won’t be defensive. We know it’s the aggressive player who takes the match away,” he stated.
The captain also noted the presence of Bjorn Borg’s son, Leo, who has risen to the No. 2 spot in the Swedish team, and the expected attendance of Swedish tennis legends Mats Wilander and Thomas Enqvist. Rajpal sees this as a potential source of home pressure for Sweden. “Their doubles team is good, similar to ours,” he added, acknowledging the strength of the Swedish doubles duo.
While India faces a tough challenge in Stockholm, Rajpal and his team are determined to put up a strong fight, with the young players eager to prove themselves on the international stage. The absence of key players may have altered the odds, but India’s spirit and determination remain intact.
