Kraljevo (Serbia): India’s depleted Davis Cup squad will bank on the consistency of Prajnesh Gunneswaran to pull the side through when they take on a shorn-of-star-power Serbia in the World Group Play-off tie here starting Friday.
Recently-crowned US Open champion Novak Djokovic’s decision to opt out of the play-offs along with World No.33 Filip Krajinovic has raised hopes of an equal contest between the two teams.
Playing away is still an enormous task for the Indian team, who have landed here without Yuki Bhambri and Divij Sharan. But the combined experience of the Indian players is 43 ties as compared to just 14 for the home players, something which the visitors would look to exploit.
In the absence of an injured Yuki, a lot would depend on how the left-handed Prajnesh, who won a singles bronze medal at the Asian Games, performs. Prajnesh has shown the mental strength to soak in pressure and he is confident going into the tie which will be played indoors on clay courts.
“Novak is not playing, so everyone else is beatable if we play well. It will be tough certainly. But we have a chance. We need to take the opportunities we get,” Prajnesh said Thursday.
Ramkumar Ramanathan, ranked 135, has pulled off some big wins in the last 12 months but consistency has always been his bane. In Jakarta, he lost to a player who was ranked below 400.
Dusan Lajovic, who stunned US Open finalist and World No. 4 Juan Martin del Potro at the Madrid Masters earlier in the year, will lead the home challenge. However, Ramkumar has beaten the World No. 56 in the past.
Laslo Djere, ranked 86, is the second singles player for the hosts, but he lacks Davis Cup experience, having appeared in just two ties before this.
The rest of the three players in the Serbian side – Pedja Krstin (1), Nikola Milojevic (1) and Danilo Petrovic (0) – have played two ties between them.
“Our chances remain the same. After Novak pulled out, we believe we have a chance,” said India’s non-playing captain Mahesh Bhupathi.
Rohan Bopanna will be the most experienced player on the courts with 29 ties under his belt. The 38-year-old will have to use his experience to ensure that India get that doubles point Saturday. He and N Sriram Balaji played well against Uzbekistan last year.
About the indoor conditions, India’s coach Zeeshan Ali said, “It’s very different.” However, Prajnesh said the conditions would suit them.
Draw done
Kraljevo: Ramkumar Ramanathan will open India’s campaign against Serbia’s Laslo Djere in the World Group Play-off tie, starting Friday. After that Prajnesh Gunneswaran will take on Serbia’s No1. Dusan Lajovic. In doubles Rohan Bopanna and N Sriram Balaji will take on the home pair of Nikola Milojevic and debutant Danilo Petrovic, Saturday. The reverse singles will be played Sunday.
Caption
India will bank on the good form of Prajnesh Gunneswaran to upset Serbia in their Davis Cup World Group Play-off tie