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The build-up to the India vs. Korea Davis Cup Asia Oceania Group I tie has been more about who’s not playing rather than who is. And just in case you’re one of those few who missed it, here’s a quick recap. 11 of India’s top players…having issues with AITA…making some demands…AITA not agreeing…both sides making public statements and speaking to the media…impasse unresolved…players boycotting the tie.
But with the tie just a day away, let’s focus on who will be on court rather than who won’t. The Indian squad will be led by 39-year-old Leander Paes. But even the most successful player in Indian Davis Cup history will have a tough time shouldering the responsibility of the rookie team (the other three Indians in the squad are all making their Davis Cup debuts) solely on his shoulders.
Paes has stopped playing singles since a long time, and while he is currently no. 7 in the world in doubles, he will be pairing up with Davis Cup rookie Purav Raja.
Paes is familiar with Raja, who he has practised with on several occasions over the past few years whenever Paes was in Mumbai. But there’s no predicting how Raja will perform in a high-pressure match situation. The 27-year-old, ranked in the 160s in the world in doubles, could rise to the occasion on Saturday or he could be overwhelmed by it. Raja will hold the key to the doubles match, and for his own sake, he will be hoping that our singles players will manage to win at least one point on Friday.
Playing singles for India on Friday will be 27-year-old Ranjeet Viralli-Murugesan, ranked no. 511 in the world, and 22-year-old Vijayant Malik, ranked no. 537. Both are regulars on the ITF Futures circuit and both will be making their Davis Cup debuts on Friday. The only consolation for them is that they will be playing at home – at the RK Khanna Tennis Stadium in New Delhi – on courts and in conditions which they are quite familiar with. On the other hand, Korea will be represented by 19-year-old Jeong Suk-Young, ranked no. 321 in the world, 21-year-old Yong Kyu-Lim, ranked no. 435, 19-year-old Sung Nam-ji, ranked no. 454 and 25-year-old Cho Min Hyeok, who has been serving in the Korean army for the past two years and does not have an ATP ranking.
Jeong Suk-Young is Korea’s highest ranking player
Malik has not played any of the top 3 Korean players but Ranjeet is 1-0 against Suk-Young and 1-1 against Kyu-Lim. And while there isn’t much to separate the players in the rankings, the Koreans come with plenty of Davis Cup experience. Suk-Young is 2-3 in singles play in the Davis Cup while Kyu-Lim is 6-6. Korea also holds a lead over India in head-to-head in Davis Cup meetings, with the Koreans having won 5 of the 8 times the two nations have clashed, the last being in 2006.
If India do somehow managed to get past the Koreans, even a full Indian squad will find it tough to get past Japan in the next round. The Japanese take on Indonesia this weekend, and the winner of the two ties will clash in April for a spot in the World Group play-offs inSeptember. With a squad that boasts of top 20 player Kei Nishikori and top 100 players Go Soeda and Tatsuma Ito, Japan should easily be able to beat even a top-notch Indian team.
India has punched above its weight before in the largest annual team sporting competition in the world, but Japan may be an impossible mountain to climb. But for now, let’s just focus on overcoming the Koreans this weekend.
