Davis Cup Preview - India's boys... Ready to become men?

The Indian team that takes on Uzbekistan in the Davis Cup Asia Oceania Group 1 zonal tie on Friday will be missing some familiar faces. Both Somedev Devarman and Mahesh Bhupathi, crucial figures in India’s success in recent years, are not part of the squad this time.

Devvarman has not played since January due to an injured shoulder that has seen his ranking drop to the 180s. There is still no timeline for his return and it seems likely that he will not make the cut-offs for the Olympics. On the other hand, Bhupathi was dropped from the team as the selectors chose Rohan Bopanna to partner Leander Paes in the doubles, hoping that Bopanna could also fill in as a singles player if required.

The onus now falls on two youngsters to carry the nation’s hopes if India is to reach the World Group relegation play-offs in September.

24 year old Sanam Singh and 19 year old Yuki Bhambri are both coming into the competition in good form and on the back of career-best rankings achieved on the ATP Tour. Singh won 3 successive ITF Futures titles to send his ranking inside the top 500 while Bhambri has transitioned to the Challenger circuit and established himself inside the top 300 in the world.

Both Indians will be playing a live Davis Cup rubber for the first time. Singh has been part of a reserve squad previously while Bhambri has only played a dead rubber. If India is to win, both of them will need to beat Uzebk no. 2 Farroukh Dustov, a 25 year old ranked 262 in the world. Dustov has only been ranked as high as 173 in the world and has not won a match on the circuit since January.

The other two singles matches are in all likelihood going to go the Uzbeks way. Leading their charge is world no. 43 Dennis Istomin. Istomin has been playing some of his best tennis this year – having reached the semis in Syndey, finals in San Jose and the fourth round in Indian Wells – compiling a 13-8 record on tour. Istomin will have too much firepower and experience for either of the Indians to trouble him yet.

If Singh and Bhambri manage to win their singles ties against Dustov, and Paes/ Bopanna being as good as a lock-in for the doubles, India could be looking at a 3-2 win.

India has beaten the Uzbeks twice in their three previous Davis Cup ties. But interesting to note that in all those encounters, it has always been the home nation that has triumphed. Of the quartet, Istomin and Bhambri are the only ones who have played each other before, with Istomin winning that 2010 encounter.

Time and again, it has been proven that rankings and resumes mean little in the Davis Cup competition. The pride of playing for your nation could very well turn into unbearable pressure. We’ll find out this weekend if the boys of Indian tennis are ready to become men!!