Great comeback, but team needs younger players: Akhtar Ali

KOLKATA - Ace tennis coach Akhtar Ali Sunday praised India’s dramatic 3-2 comeback win against Brazil to stay in the Davis Cup World Group, but cautioned that the team immediately needed two-three youngsters, including a singles player, to give support to the young Somdev Devvarman.

Ali also expressed his disappointment with Yuki Bhambri opting to play in a tournament when he should have been “training with the Davis Cup team, particularly with the likes of Leander (Paes) and Mahesh (Bhupathi).”

The 71-year-old Ali was, however, all praise for the team’s tremendous performance after being down 0-2 on the opening day of the World Group play-off against the Latin American nation.

“In Davis Cup, we have never won from being 0-2 down. This is indeed remarkable. The way the boys triumphed under pressure is indeed remarkable,” he said.

Ali said this was the first time that the Indians opted to play on the hardcourt surface which suited Somdev’s style of play. “Thomaz Bellucci could not withstand the tremendous heat and had a heat stroke after conceding the first stroke. I always knew that if Somdev wins the first set then that would be the end of the Brazilian under the given condition”.

He also praised the gangling Rohan Bopanna for playing the reverse singles match like a “great champion” and coasting India to victory.

Asked how Indian tennis should look ahead now, Ali said the team immediately needed two-three young players. “We particularly need a good singles player to support Somdev. Rohan is 30-plus and basically a doubles player now. And Leander and Mahesh are too old for singles.”

He also felt that ageing warhorses Pes and Bhupathi will not play for more than a year in Davis Cup. “Then it will become difficult for India. We need two-three players, one of whom should be a singles specialist.”.

On Yuki Bambri, he said: “I am very disappointed with Yuki. He should have been there training with the Davis Cup team.

“I understand he is playing elsewhere. But Davis cup is a completely different ball game. He would have learnt a lot by practising with Leander and Mahesh,” Ali said.

“I think, Yuki is being wrongly advised.”