New Delhi: India would be keen to notch up their first win over Sweden in Davis Cup in an away World Group I contest that begins on Saturday.
They would have to be at their absolute visit having landed in Stockholm without their top singles player Sumit Nagal and leading doubles specialist Yuki Bhambri.
Since Sweden are not that formidable themselves, India would still fancy winning for the first time in six attempts in the indoor tie.
But the Swedes would look to benefit from paying in their known conditions of the medium-speed court at the Royal Tennis Hall that could neutralise India’s big servers.
India would have to perform well in the singles matches in order to win the tie and a lot would depend how Ramkumar Ramanathan performs on the opening day with either of Niki Poonacha and N Sriram Balaji would be picked for the second singles.
Though a doubles specialist, Balaji defeated Pakistan’s Aqeel Khan in India’s win over Pakistan in Islamabad early this year while Poonacha too focuses more on doubles and has sprained his ankle while training for the tie.
Sweden top ranked player is Elias Ymer (238) and he is yet to beat Ramkumar in two meetings on the ATP Tour. In doubles, one of Ramkumar or Poonacha would partner Balaji.
“We have better servers, and our players like to get in, play shorter points but these are medium-speed courts, so we are getting used to it by playing a lot of singles with each other,” India captain Rohit Rajpal told PTI.
“If Yuki and Sumit were here, the tie would have tilted towards us, now it’s 50-50. Leo Borg (second singles player) has improved a lot, we are watching him. They have a tough doubles team.”
Speaking on Poonacha’s injury, Rajpal said Pooncha is much better and could shake off the sprain before the beginning of the tie, adding that the low rankings of Borg (603) and doubles players Andre Goransson (66) and Filip Bergevi (125) can be deceiving.
“He is much better and the physio is confident that he should be fine for the matches. They don’t play much outside (on Tour) but they are hitting the ball hard and clean. They look good.”
India take on Sweden in an away Davis Cup tie without their top singles player Sumit Nagal and leading doubles specialist Yuki Bhambri. Tennis Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
