India’s non-playing captain Anand Amritraj on Tuesday expressed his commiserations with Saketh Myneni who will not be taking part in the Davis Cup tie with Czech Republic that begins on Friday.
With leander Paes coming into the Davis Cup team having opted out of the trip to New Zealand in the previous outing, Myneni has had to forego his place. This fact has not gone unnoticed by Amritraj who said, “He has been a rock. He expected it might happen and has taken it well. I have high regard for him. He has accepted the situation. When lee wants to play, he gets to play but our team is stronger with leander and Rohan (Bopanna) playing the doubles rubber. Saketh is good but he does not have experience and he does not have the scare factor which leander and Rohan have.”
The former player also added that he found it unfair but reckoned it was part of the team event. “It’s been unfair to Saketh in my personal opinion. He has been with us in thick and thin. last year Chinese Taipei and Korea were really difficult matches, which Rohan and Saketh played and won. This time in New Zealand we did not win, we played a difficult match. He is a good team player and that comes from college tennis in US. But this is how life is, he has accepted it which is great,” the captain said.