Yuki returns to Davis Cup squad for Serbia tie

Yuki Bhambri returned to India’s Davis Cup squad for the World Group play-off tie against world No 2 Serbia, as the selectors named a six-member squad on expected lines.

Somdev Devvarman, the country’s No 1 singles player, will lead the squad.

Yuki had missed the away tie against Korea in Busan, where a 3-1 victory sealed India a play-off berth, because of a heel injury.

The experienced Rohan Bopanna and big-serving Saketh Myneni are the other two members of the squad, which has Ramkumar Ramanathan and

Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan as reserves.

Sanam Singh, who played against Korea, was dropped for the September 12-14 tie, to be hosted by the Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association, in Bangalore.

The selection panel, headed by chairman Anil Dhupar, took rankings into consideration this time as the squad for the Asian Games had created a huge furore.

Ranked 391, Sanam Singh was picked for the Asian Games ahead of higher-ranked Jeevan (297) and Ramkumar (305).

Selection panel member Balram Singh said Mahesh Bhupathi's name was not discussed at all since he has not played for months.

Leander Paes opted not to play in the tie due to personal reasons, so Bopanna and Myneni, who made his Davis Cup debut against Taipei, will do doubles duty.

Bopanna and Myneni have been unbeaten in doubles rubbers this year, having won their matches against Chinese Taipei and Korea.

Serbia are expected to be without world No 1 Novak Djokovic, but they still pose a huge challenge to hosts with the services of world No 60 Dusan Lajovic, Filip Krajinovic (110) and Ilija Bozoljac (182) in their ranks apart from multiple Grand Slam winner Nenad Zimonjic.

Image: Yuki Bhambri

Photograph: Tim Chong/Reuters