When India plays Denmark in the Davis Cup Play-off match, which begins on Friday. It would be a herculean job for the Indian Davis Cup side to retain its spot in World Group I. Rune, the world’s No. 9 player, will make the hosts strong favourites to stay in World Group I. As India does not have even one player ranked among the top 300. Hard courts will be used indoors for the match. The presence of 19-year-old Rune, who advanced to the fourth round of the Australian Open last month and won three ATP titles in 2022. This makes it a very different prospect from when India blanked Denmark 4-0 in Delhi in March 2022.
In order to overcome Rune’s presence, India has devised a clever plan and is focusing on underdogs August Holmgren (rated 484) and Elmer Moeller (ranked 718) in the Denmark camp. The squad has chosen to start Yuki Bhambri on the first day as the second-ranked player in the nation so that Sumit Nagal can enter as the top player and try to eke out a victory on the first day.
Despite his low ranking, Holmgren is a difficult opponent. He has already won an NCAA championship and will be a formidable opponent for the Indian squad. The doubles game will become important. The team’s veteran leader, Rohan Bopanna, will need to lead by example in the Davis Cup.
Ever since the new format was introduced in 2019, the Indian team has managed to stay in World Group I but the team will have to work hard to keep its place. Also Read: Top 10 Most Watched Sports Event in the World of all time
Yuki to face Holger Rune in the Davis Cup opener
There are three singles players in the playing squad — Prajnesh Gunneswaran (306), Ramkumar Ramanathan (412) and Sumit Nagal (509) — while Sasi Kumar Mukund has been left out. But it’s hardly surprising that Rohit Rajpal, the team’s captain, chose to start Bhambri. Although he no longer competes in the singles event on the ATP Tour, his skill on indoor courts (where elements like wind do not count) makes it tough to dismiss him. Nagal will take the field against Holmgren, while Yuki will face Rune in the opening match of the tie.
The newly laid indoor court moves at a waist-height bounce and is a little slow. Rajpal, the captain, and Zeeshan Ali, the coach, say that Nagal is the Indian team’s best player right now. Nagal appeared to be in excellent shape when he lost the battle in Pune.
On day two, Bopanna and Yuki will play the doubles against Johannes Ingildsen and Christien Sigsgaard. However the hosts can also field Rune if required on day two
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