The Indian contingent led by non-playing captain Anand Amritraj remained optimistic of India’s chances in the Davis Cup tie against the Czech Republic which begins on Friday.
India will be represented by Somdev Devvarman and Yuki Bhambri in the singles department while leander Paes and Rohan Bopanna will spearhead the doubles rubber. Of the four, two are coming into the tie on the back of wins as Paes won the US Open mixed doubles crown with his Swiss partner Martina Hingis and Bhambri won an ATP Challenger title in Shanghai.
Top ranked Czech Republic are in the capital without their top ranked singles player Tomas Berdych but despite that, they will pose a worry to Anand and his team with the likes of Radek Stepanek, earlier Paes’ partner, and 6’6 Jiri Vesely who has a massive serve that will help his side on the quick and newly relayed surface at the RK Khanna Stadium. Also on the squad is lukas Rosol, world no 84, who is best remembered for beating Rafael Nadal at the Wimbledon in 2012.
Even though two Czech players feature in the top 100, Bopanna remained positive of India’s aim of getting back into the World Group. “We have done it in past and the rankings don’t matter. Then there is heat, so it depends on which player controls all of it better. We have a great shot at getting back into the World Group,” said the doubles player.
Heat has been a big topic of discussion from both camps with Czech team needing to acclimatize to the 35-36 degree temperatures and high humidity. “Heat won’t be much of a problem. We’ve got four days to work on it and get used to the conditions. Moreover, we’re coming from New York where it was hot and humid too so it won’t be much of a change,” said Stepanek.
However, Amritraj maintained that heat would play a factor at the end. “Heat is definitely going to be a big factor, it is going to be 37, 38 in the afternoon. However fit you are, to concentrate for three sets mentally and physically won’t be easy,” said the non-playing captain wearing a jacket of Indian colours.
Doubles has always been a strong suit for the Indian team and that is unlikely to change with Paes arriving on Wednesday morning to partner Bopanna. The duo had pulled off a great win over Serbia last year in Bangalore and the same is expected this time too. “We don’t know who will play (in doubles).
I know maybe Radek will be playing but who will play with him. Whether it is lukas or Vesely or the other guy (Adam Pavlasek). It’s an experienced team. They are not only in the World Group for such a long time but have also won it twice. We have to play our best tennis,” said Bopanna.