Davis Cup 2023 Rival Watch: India face Morocco in World Group II tie

Victory against Morocco will help India regain it's position in World Group I.

The Indian tennis team shall be squaring off against Morocco in a highly anticipated Davis Cup 2023 World Group II encounter scheduled to take place on September 16th and 17th in the city of Lucknow.

India descended into the Davis Cup World Group II following a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Denmark in the Davis Cup 2023 World Group I playoffs held in February. Emerging victorious against Morocco will propel the Indian team into the playoffs tie, scheduled for February next year. This achievement will present India with a golden opportunity to regain its position in the Davis Cup World Group I.

For the first time since the introduction of the new format in 2019, the Indian tennis team has descended to this level. Throughout the current season, Indian tennis has experienced few noteworthy moments, until recently when Rohan Bopanna successfully advanced to the US Open final.

Apart from the lack of on-court achievements in singles matches, the nation has also faced the disappointment of losing its sole ATP 250 event.

Recent performances

Morocco made its debut in the Davis Cup in 1961. The nation has had the opportunity to compete in the prestigious World Group three times, specifically in 2001, 2002, and 2004. However, Morocco unfortunately did not progress past the first round in any of those instances.

Following their promotion to World Group II in 2023, Morocco faced a crucial challenge against Cote d'Ivoire in the World Group II Playoffs. The Moroccan team showcased their skills and determination, securing an impressive 3-1 victory over the hosts.

The Squad

The national team of Morocco holds the 55th spot in the FIFA World Rankings. Led by Captain Mehdi Tahiri, the team comprises notable players such as Elliot Benchetrit, Yassine Dlimi, Adam Moundir, Walid Ahouda, and Younes Lalami Laaroussi.

The Coach

Mehdi Tahiri is also the coach of the Moroccan Davis Cup team. Tahiri has represented Morocco in the Davis Cup from 1993 to 2006. He has also achieved a career-high singles ranking of No. 324. The seasoned coach will employ his expertise to guide his team towards victory against the host nation, India.

Players to watch

Elliot Benchetrit

In regards to India's singles players, it has come to light that Morocco presents a noteworthy contender by the name of Elliot Benchetrit. Regrettably, the visitors have made the decision to withhold his participation on the opening day due to an undisclosed injury from which he has recently recuperated.

Despite currently holding a modest rank of 465 on the ATP singles chart as of Friday, the 24-year-old athlete achieved a career-high position of 198 in February 2020. Benchetrit has notably secured victories against top-100 players, including one against a top-50 player, and has successfully competed at the prestigious Grand Slam tournaments as well.

However, he has been designated solely for doubles play alongside Yones Lalami Laaroussi.

Yassine Dlimi

The opposing team's top seed is Yassine Dlimi, a 20-years-old who currently holds the 557th position in singles ranking. Yassine has successfully attained a career best ranking of 548th in singles. In the opening match of the tie, he will be contesting against Sasikumar Mukund. He will surely look to start the clash with a lead against their opponent.

What to expect

India holds a higher ranking and possesses a commendable doubles team. However, it is worth considering the impact of heat on their performance, as a significant number of their players typically train outside of India. The inclusion of Rohan Bopanna in the doubles category bestows India with a notable advantage.

With an impressive world ranking of 7 and a recent runner-up finish in the US Open, Bopanna will be participating in his 50th and final Cup match. It is expected that he, alongside Yuki Bhambri, will secure the crucial point for India.