India will not only be up against tough Russians but also unfriendly weather in Moscow in their World Group tie.
If India were to create the upset of the year by beating Russia at their backyard in the Davis Cup, they’ll have to tame an unbelievably hostile weather and Somdev Devvarman will have to be in the form of his life.
It’s -5°c on Thursday in Moscow where Leander Paes & Co will take on the Mikhail Youzhnys at the Small Sports Arena in a World Group first round tie. The forecast is -9°c, -10°c & -12°c for the next three days. Though the matches would be played in an indoor court with controlled temperature, it won’t be easy for the Indians.
Leander, a veteran of 115 Davis Cup matches, knows it will be ruddy difficult. “It’s freezing in Russia...Though it would be warm inside (the court), it’s going to be very, very difficult...there is a danger of stretching ligaments and more,” the 11-time Grand Slam winner told DNA.
According to the draw released on Thursday, Somdev Devvarman will take on Igor Andreev in the opening rubber on Friday. Andreev received a call-up after world No.6 Nikolay Davydenko pulled out with a wrist injury.
At 38, the Russian is 95 spots above the Indian in ATP rankings. But since when have rankings mattered in Davis Cup? Somdev said that they would be no pushovers.
“We’re obviously in this to win it. There’s no doubt that they’re the favourites but we’ve all seen upsets in Davis Cup before and our team is very capable of making that happen,” he said on Thursday.
It is imperative that Somdev gives India a good start because the next singles tie pits Rohan Bopanna against world No 13 Mikhail Youzhny. The world No 416 Indian has been in good doubles form of late but his singles career hasn’t really taken off. Youzhny is expected to win that one.
Which takes us to the doubles tie on Saturday. Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi will team up once again to take on Igor Kunitsyn and Teimuraz Gabashvili.
India are the favourites but Paes is taking nothing for granted. “Trust me, the doubles tie would be tricky this time,” he said, adding: “The courts are also going to be faster I believe...not having played there before, I expect it to be a very tough challenge...the Russians will obviously bank on their home advantage.”
And tough it will be.
Russia have not lost at home since the 1995 final when Pete Sampras won all three of his matches to lead the US to victory. Since then, they have won 16 straight rubbers.
India do enjoy a better head-to-head record against the Russians but the teams have not met in the recent past. The last time they met Russia was in 1986 in New Delhi when India won 4-1. Since then, the Russians have been crowned champions twice, in 2002 and 2006.
The reverse singles will be played on Sunday with Bopanna playing Andreev and Somdev locking horns with Youzhny.
The winners will play either Argentina or Sweden in the quarterfinals from July 9-11.
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