Yuki Bhambri gets Davis Cup call-up

A spate of recent successes on the ITF circuit has fetched Delhi lad Yuki Bhambri a place in the Indian Davis Cup squad for the crucial World Group play-off tie against South Africa, scheduled for September 18 to 20.

On Tuesday, Yuki replaced Sanam Singh, a reserve player for the tie against Chinese Taipei, in the squad, which remained unchanged otherwise.

Somdev Devvarman, Rohan Bopanna, Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi complete the squad.

S P Misra will continue as the non-playing captain while Nandan Bal will be coach of the team for the away tie.

If India wins the tie, it will enter the World Group after a gap of 11 years.

India advanced to the play-off tie after Australia forfeited the final-round encounter, which was to be held in Chennai, on security grounds.

"Bopanna has recovered from the injury, so we have retained him in the squad. Whether Yuki would make his debut will be decided by the captain only," said an All India Tennis Association selector.