India's tryst with the Davis Cup

Somdev Devvarman’s victory against Jiri Vesely did not prove to be enough to take India past Czech Republic

Yuki Bhambri’s straight set loss to Czech ace Jiri Vesely brought the curtains down on yet another campaign for Team Indian in the Davis Cup. Somdev Devvarman’s victory over the same opponent two days ago had raised hopes of an upset victory over the top ranked nation in the tournament but the normally reliable and seasoned doubles players, Leander Paes and Rohan Bopanna were not able to add to India’s tally. From then on, it was always going to be an uphill task for the Men in Blue.

India’s 3-1 loss to the Czechs meant that India had yet again failed to qualify for the Davis Cup World Group. India have not qualified for the elite World Group since their 4-1 defeat to Serbia in 2011 and will start their next campaign in the Semi Finals of Group I of the Asia/Oceania Zone.

But looking back, has it always been this way for the Indians in a competition so steeped in history?

India first participated in the tournament in 1921 and has been involved in 191 fixtures winning 114 and losing 77. It is no surprise that Leander Paes has been credited with the most number of wins, standing tall at 89.

India’s Best Performances

India is yet to win the Davis Cup but has reached the finals on three occasions – 1966, 1974 and 1987.

In 1966, the Indian team comprising Ramanathan Krishnan and Jaideep Mukerjea fell to the might of the Australians after having beaten Brazil and the erstwhile West Germany in the prior rounds.

1974 was a year in which Vijay Amritraj beat the legendary Bjorn Borg and Anand Amritraj also went on to collect two doubles titles. Much was expected of the Indian Davis Cup team that year and after some stirring performances, the Indian team comprising of Vijay, Anand and Jasjit Singh guided India past some tricky fixtures against Australia and the Soviet Union to make it to the finals against South Africa. India were touted as strong favourites for this tie and could have brought home a maiden Davis Cup title but alas, India refused to participate in the finals as a mark of protest against the South African government’s apartheid policies.

It took India another thirteen years to have a shot at their unfulfilled dream of winning the Davis Cup. India were then led by Ramanathan Krishnan’s son, Ramesh and the veteran of eighteen years, Vijay Amritraj. In the finals, India had their backs against the wall against the Swedes who had the then world number 1, Mats Wilander, in their ranks. The Swedes completed a resounding 5-0 victory and with that quashed the Indian dreams.

India have failed to reach such lofty heights ever since and the search for that elusive Davis Cup win, far-fetched and seemingly impossible in the current scenario, goes on.