Berdych's absence for Czechs gives India a fighting chance in Davis Cup tie: Anand Amritraj

New Delhi: It might be an acid test for the Indian Davis Cup team against world number one Czech Republic in the World Group Play-off tie but Rohan Bopanna is confident that they have it in them to tame the three-time champions. Addressing media ahead of the tie, Bopanna spoke with a lot of confidence, which is a result of his consistent showing on the ATP tour where he remains a contender to win big tournaments including Grand Slams. “We have done it in past. Rankings don’t matter (Czech have two top-100 players). Then there is heat, so it depends on which player controls all of it better. We have a great shot at getting back into the World Group,” Bopanna, who has managed to come out of the shadows of veterans Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi in the last two-three years, said. [caption id=“attachment_2435724” align=“aligncenter” width=“380”]  Indian Davis Cup Team: (L to R) Yuki Bhambri, Anand Amritraj, Somdev Devvarman, Rohan Bopannna[/caption] Bopanna and Paes had pulled off a tough match against world number two Serbia, exactly a year back in Bangalore, and he believes that an encore is possible this time around. But he said irrespective of the Czech team combination, they have a tough job at hand. “We don’t know who will play (in doubles). I know maybe Radek will be playing but who will play with him. Whether it is Lukas or Vesely or the other guy (Adam Pavlasek). It’s an experienced team. They are not only in the World Group for such a long time but have also won it twice. We have to play our best tennis,” he said. India’s non-playing captain Anand Amritraj says absence of world number six Tomas Berdych has improved India’s chances, plus the searing Delhi heat may make it tough for the visitors. “With Berdych it would have been out of our reach but now I think we have a much better chance. Having said they have a guy in top-50 one on top-100, and Stepanek is there,it is going to be tough.” “Heat is definitely going to be a big factor, it is going to be 37, 38 in the afternoon. However fit you are, to concentrate for three sets mentally and physically won’t be easy,” he said. The captain also said that the pressure to win will be more on the Czechs since they are favourites. Yuki Bhambri, who will be India’s number one singles player in the tie, said he was in good touch and was looking forward to take advantage of the home conditions. He is coming into the tie after winning a Challenger title in Shanghai. “When you are winning it means you are playing well. But We have to put forward out best foot. We are not favourites here but playing at home makes a difference. I have grown up here, Somdev also plays well here. Looking to take advantage of that,” the 23-year-old said. Bopanna was at his witty best while answering a few questions as the gathering burst into laughter at least thrice. When asked if he has spoken to either Sania or Leander Paes about playing in Rio Olympic Games, he promptly said,“It’s up to Sania to decide. She is playing the tennis of her life. She has to decide with whom she wants to play. I want to play with her, Leander also wants to play with her.” “About the men’s doubles, do we have any other option (than Leander and him)? If I am not mistaken, we need a combined ranking of 60-65 and no other (player) can make it (other than us), Even if we try to make a combination, we can’t do it,” he said. India’s Somdev Devvarman believes that there is always pressure when the national players step out on home turf. “There is always pressure to perform. If you are an Indian athlete, then you are liable to a lot of negative press. No matter what you do, there is always pressure to perform in India. That’s just the way it is,” Devvarman said. But the 30-year-old player insists that the Indian team has seen an upward graph in recent times. “We are improving for sure. Even I am getting better every time I play. Our team is definitely getting stronger. Hopefully, we will be able to get this tie and give ourselves a good shot at the World Group,” he said. PTI