History and rankings matter little in Davis Cup
By IANSWednesday, March 3, 2010
NEW DELHI - India’s 2-1 head-to-head Davis Cup record against Russia may look impressive on the eve of their World Group first round, but the history is as irrelevant as the world rankings. India’s superior track record means little for two counts.
One, Russia is a 21st century tennis power, having won the Davis Cup twice, in 2002 and 2008, and two they are playing at home and at peak winter, even though on hardcourt indoors.
In Davis Cup, home advantage is huge and the Russians have an awesome record in their backyard. They have won their last 16 home ties just as India beat them twice at home, the last time being the 4-1 rout in New Delhi in 1986.
The Russian tennis renaissance began with Marat Safin and Yevgeny Kafelnikov, both of whom are now retired, and they have handed over the baton to Nikolay Davydenko, who is missing the tie with an injured left wrist, and Mikhail Youzhny.
World No. 6 Davydenko, 28, has withdrawn with a left-wrist injury he suffered during his semifinal loss at Rotterdam last month.
Davydenko’s replacement Igor Andreev will play the opening singles against India No. 1 and Somdev Devvarman while Rohan Bopanna will run into Youzhny in the second match.
In the doubles, the experienced Indian pair Leader Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi will play Igor Kunitsyn and Teimuraz Gabashvili on the second day.
What goes in India’s favour is their overall Davis Cup track record, having beaten much higher-ranked teams, Yugoslavia, Chile and Argentina to name a few, to stay in the World Group for quite some years in the 1980s-90s. And to make the World Cup now they pulled off an away victory over South Africa in the play-off.
Yet, it is going to be tough for India. The last time they played in Russia, they were frozen in biting cold.
India’s non-playing captain S. P. Misra is optimistic about his team’s chances, but at the same time realistic too.
Misra told IANS that anything can happen in a Davis Cup tie and cited two factors for his confidence. One, Somdev Devvarman is improving with every outing on the circuit, particularly when takes on tougher opponents, and two the doubles play of Paes and Bhupathi.
“Paes and Bhupathi can be expected to win their doubles to give one point and if Somdev can pull off the opening singles, then the pressure would be on the Russians,” Misra said.
He, however, conceded it is going to be tough against a team that has one singles players in world’s top 20 (Youzhny at 13) and another in the 50 (Andreev at 38).
In comparison, Somdev is in the 128th place and the second singles player Rohan Bopanna in 416th.
Both Paes and Somdev exuded confidence Thursday. Paes saw the India as the rising team while Somdev thinks he could give the Russians a good run for their money.
