We have a really strong squad for the Davis Cup, feels Rohan Bopanna

India take on Denmark on March 4th and 5th in the World Group I playoffs tie.

The two biggest names in  Indian  Tennis, Rohan Bopanna  and  Ramkumar  Ramanathan  put  up  a  sublime  performance  to  clinch the  Men's Doubles title  at  the  Tata  Open  Maharashtra.  The duo beat the  top seeds  from  Australia,  Luke  Saville  and  John Patrick  Smith  6-7, 6-3,  10-6  in  a thriller  at  the  Balewadi  Stadium. This will be a huge morale booster for  the  pair and  the  entire  Indian  Davis  Cup  squad  who  are  set  to take  on  Denmark  on  4th and  5th  March  at  the  Delhi  Gymkhana  Club in  the  World  Group  I  Playoffs tie. 

After winning the men's doubles title at ATP 250 Tata Open Maharashtra,  Ramkumar Ramanthan is now inside doubles top-100 for the first time in his career. He is ranked 94 while Bopanna climbs up by 8 places to move 35th. 

Bopanna  and  Ramanathan are  an  integral part  of  the  Indian  team which  has already  been announced  and  comprises Yuki  Bhambri (670-singles),  Prajnesh Gunneswaran  (235-singles) and  Divij Sharan  (134-doubles).  The  squad  is led  by  coach  Zeeshan Ali  and  non playing  captain  Rohit  Rajpal. 

Speaking  at  the  post  match  conference  in  Balewadi,  Rohan  Bopanna, " I  think  we  have  a  really strong  squad  going  into the  Davis Cup  this year.  For doubles  we  have  Ram,  Yuki,  Divij &  myself,  so  a  lot  of  options to play  with.  It depends on  how  the  first  day  goes and  then  it  will  be  the  coach's decision  to field  the  doubles  pair". 

He  further added "Playing  anywhere  in  India  is special to me  and  Pune  is that  much  more  special  because  I  have  lived  here  for  5  years (1994-99).  I  have  a good connection  with  the  city  although  when I  was living here,  the  Balewadi  Stadium  wasn't  even  there  but  there  are  some  really  fond memories  here",  said  Bopanna.

The  tie  will  be  held  in  the  grass  courts of the  Delhi  Gymkhana  Club in  a  biosecurity  bubble. India  would  consider  playing  on  grass  an  added  advantage over  Denmark  who are  more  comfortable  playing  on  clay  courts. India will have hurdle of Denmark's Holger Rune who is currently ranked 88th in men's singles. No other Danish singles player is ranked in Top 200. 

This  will  be  the  first  meeting  between  the  two teams since  1984,  when India  won 3-2  in Aarhus, Denmark on clay surface.

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