Ever since Davis Cup moved away from its regional format to grow to be one international event, India has struggled.
From 2014 to 2020, India beat its Asia-Oceania opponents and certified for seven straight World Group playoffs. In the three years for the reason that regional silos had been dismantled to membership everybody into one consolidated world-level pot, India has misplaced three of its 4 ties to slide right down to World Group II.
On Saturday, when it takes on Morocco on the Vijayant Khand Mini Stadium right here, India will hope to fall no additional. Another defeat will go away its very survival in Group II at stake, a near-hell state of affairs for the nation that has reached the Davis Cup ultimate thrice.
Better-placed
On paper, nonetheless, India appears the higher aspect. Present-day Morocco is much from the nation that when produced Hicham Arazi and Younes El Ayanaoui, each top-25 singles gamers and multiple-time Major quarterfinalists.
At the draw ceremony on Friday, it was revealed that Sasikumar Mukund would open proceedings towards Yassine Dlimi, adopted by Sumit Nagal towards Adam Moundir. Mukund is ranked 365 to Dlimi’s 557 and Nagal 156 to Moundir’s 779.
The indisputable fact that Morocco’s main singles participant, Elliot Benchetrit at No. 465, isn’t match-fit to play opening-day singles has set the guests again additional. Mukund might have misplaced 5 straight singles matches main into Lucknow, however the probability to place India on the victorious path on his Cup debut ought to encourage him.
Nagal is recent off a ATP Challenger ultimate in Austria to go along with two titles earlier within the yr.
Trump card
The presence of Rohan Bopanna in doubles provides India a innovative. The World No.7, who reached the US Open ultimate final weekend, can be taking part in his fiftieth and final Cup match, and is predicted to win the purpose alongside Yuki Bhambri.
In February, the duo misplaced its rubber to Denmark in straight units. But Yuki is a way more credentialed doubles participant now, having received his maiden ATP 250 trophy with Lloyd Harris in Mallorca in the summertime.
But Davis Cup, as the favored adage goes, respects neither the rankings nor pedigree. One have to look no additional than this week when Canada, with two gamers ranked exterior the top-150, beat the fancied Italy within the Cup Finals Group Stage.
Effect of the weather
Weather will be one other of the equalisers between India and Morocco. The searing warmth and humidity within the Uttar Pradesh capital will be power sapping, with Nagal terming the situations among the many hardest he has performed beneath.
“Rankings wise India is better and have a very good doubles team but heat will be a factor for them too because most of their players practise outside India,” opined Mehdi Tahiri, the Morocco captain. “We will use our chances to make it interesting.”
Order of play: Sasikumar Mukund vs. Yassine Dlimi adopted by Sumit Nagal vs. Adam Moundir; 2 p.m. onwards.