Bhupathi handed captaincy
New Delhi, Dec 23, 2016, DHNS
Tennis Davis Cup: Former doubles ace to take reins after New Zealand rubber
Multiple doubles Grand Slam champion Mahesh Bhupathi was named the new captain of the Indian Davis Cup team, the day his former doubles partner Rohan Bopanna was dropped from the upcoming home tie against New Zealand in February.
The tie, scheduled from February 3 to 5 in Pune, would also serve as the farewell tie for the current captain Anand Amritraj, who had received the backing of players through a letter. However, the appointment of Bhupathi put all discussions to rest. There are few in the country who can match his credentials, underlined by 12 Grand Slams in doubles and mixed doubles, and 35-20 win-loss record in Davis Cup. However, it would be interesting to see how Bhupathi, a busy man with his business ventures, balances the new responsibility.
“I had spoken to him and asked him if he was available. He said yes. So, Mahesh would take over after the New Zealand tie. We wanted to keep it a farewell tie for Anand Amritraj,” All India Tennis Association (AITA) secretary Hiranmoy Chatterjee said.
Amritraj had wished to continue for another year but AITA wasn't too keen. His outspoken nature didn’t go down too well with the federation officials, who also felt he couldn’t curb the indiscipline in team. In Bhupathi, they believe, they have made the “best decision.”
“No one wants to go. But it is not a permanent post,” Chatterjee said.
Bhupathi's return to the Davis Cup fold brings him on the same screen with Leander Paes yet again, albeit in different roles. The two estranged doubles partners, once the World No 1 pair, has had a long bitter-sweet history which has been well depicted in the public domain. The two now have the responsibility of guiding a young team.
The axing of Bopanna, though, was not surprising. He had opted out of the home tie against Spain, citing injury. In his absence, Paes and Saketh Myneni put up a good fight against the Olympic gold medal winning combination of Rafael Nadal and Marc Lopez. After the tie, Paes had also expressed interest in partnering Myneni on the ATP tour.
The selection of Myneni also gives the side a third singles player. Yuki Bhambri, returning from a long injury lay-off, and Ramkumar Ramanathan are the two singles players in the squad. Prajnesh Gunneswaran is the fifth member. Adil Kalyanpur and Nitin Kumar Sinha are the two reserves.
The AITA selectors said the decision to drop Bopanna was according to the situation.
“Saketh and Leander had done very well against Spain. They make an ideal ad-court, deuce-court combination. Rohan and Leander have never done well together. Also, we don't know how long Paes will continue, once he is not there, Bopanna can always make a comeback,” said chairman of selection committee S P Misra.
The selection committee also named a provisional squad for Fed Cup Asia/Oceania Group 1 event in Astana, Kazakhstan, from February 6. The final team will be selected two weeks before the tie. The squad comprises Sania Mirza, Ankita Raina, Snehadevi Reddy, Karman Thandi, Riya Bhatia, Prarthana Thombare.
The tie, scheduled from February 3 to 5 in Pune, would also serve as the farewell tie for the current captain Anand Amritraj, who had received the backing of players through a letter. However, the appointment of Bhupathi put all discussions to rest. There are few in the country who can match his credentials, underlined by 12 Grand Slams in doubles and mixed doubles, and 35-20 win-loss record in Davis Cup. However, it would be interesting to see how Bhupathi, a busy man with his business ventures, balances the new responsibility.
“I had spoken to him and asked him if he was available. He said yes. So, Mahesh would take over after the New Zealand tie. We wanted to keep it a farewell tie for Anand Amritraj,” All India Tennis Association (AITA) secretary Hiranmoy Chatterjee said.
Amritraj had wished to continue for another year but AITA wasn't too keen. His outspoken nature didn’t go down too well with the federation officials, who also felt he couldn’t curb the indiscipline in team. In Bhupathi, they believe, they have made the “best decision.”
“No one wants to go. But it is not a permanent post,” Chatterjee said.
Bhupathi's return to the Davis Cup fold brings him on the same screen with Leander Paes yet again, albeit in different roles. The two estranged doubles partners, once the World No 1 pair, has had a long bitter-sweet history which has been well depicted in the public domain. The two now have the responsibility of guiding a young team.
The axing of Bopanna, though, was not surprising. He had opted out of the home tie against Spain, citing injury. In his absence, Paes and Saketh Myneni put up a good fight against the Olympic gold medal winning combination of Rafael Nadal and Marc Lopez. After the tie, Paes had also expressed interest in partnering Myneni on the ATP tour.
The selection of Myneni also gives the side a third singles player. Yuki Bhambri, returning from a long injury lay-off, and Ramkumar Ramanathan are the two singles players in the squad. Prajnesh Gunneswaran is the fifth member. Adil Kalyanpur and Nitin Kumar Sinha are the two reserves.
The AITA selectors said the decision to drop Bopanna was according to the situation.
“Saketh and Leander had done very well against Spain. They make an ideal ad-court, deuce-court combination. Rohan and Leander have never done well together. Also, we don't know how long Paes will continue, once he is not there, Bopanna can always make a comeback,” said chairman of selection committee S P Misra.
The selection committee also named a provisional squad for Fed Cup Asia/Oceania Group 1 event in Astana, Kazakhstan, from February 6. The final team will be selected two weeks before the tie. The squad comprises Sania Mirza, Ankita Raina, Snehadevi Reddy, Karman Thandi, Riya Bhatia, Prarthana Thombare.
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