Rafael Nadal to lead Spain's Davis Cup team
Tennis | October 21, 2019 22:42 ISTNadal will play Davis Cup as world No. 1, a position he will claim as of November 4, while Bautista will be ranked No. 10, Carreno (35), Lopez (62) and Granollers (113).
Nadal will play Davis Cup as world No. 1, a position he will claim as of November 4, while Bautista will be ranked No. 10, Carreno (35), Lopez (62) and Granollers (113).
The Serbian team's captain Nenad Zimonjic also called up Dusan Lajovic, ranked No. 33 in the world, Filip Krajinovic (46), Viktor Troicki (159) and Janko Tipsarevic (219).
It has been learnt that the All India Tennis Association (AITA) won't force any player to travel to Pakistan and is willing to send even a second-string team to avoid suspension, relegation and fine by the International Tennis Federation (ITF).
According to well-placed sources, the deteriorating relationship between the two countries is their main concern and the Indian players have written to the AITA requesting them to change the venue.
The AITA said on Friday that a security review on November 4 will decide whether the tie can be held in Islamabad or be shifted to a neutral venue.
The International Tennis Federation has abolished Group I and Group II at regional levels, making it tougher for India on their road to Davis Cup qualifiers.
The ITF said the tie has been rescheduled for November, with the exact dates to be confirmed by the Committee no later than September 9.
The tie, scheduled to be held in Islamabad, has become a matter of speculation ever since Pakistan downgraded diplomatic ties with India citing the revocation status enjoyed by Jammu and Kashmir.
Bhupathi will be part of the conference call which will further decide on the next course of action as to whether the much-talked-about tie will be shifted to another venue or not.
The All India Tennis Association has adopted a more aggressive stance on their Davis Cup tie in Pakistan, asking the world governing body to either postpone or shift the tie to a neutral venue.
'Are Tennis players not citizens of India?', asks an official as Mahesh Bhupathi, among other players have asked the AITA to shift the venue for the Davis Cup tie from Pakistan.
India's participation in the Asia-Oceania Zone Group 1 Davis Cup tie, scheduled on September 14 and 15, is uncertain owing to high political tension with Pakistan.
Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju has said that since Davis Cup is organized by a world sporting body, the Indian government has no say in players' participation in Davis Cup tie in Pakistan.
After the Indian government scrapped the special status accorded to the state of Jammu and Kashmir, the developments have kept the AITA officials and players worried.
The tie is scheduled for September 14 and 15 in the Pakistani capital and the federation had begun the process to procure visas for the players.
Gunneswaran and Ramkumar Ramanathan will lead the singles challenge while Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharan will make the doubles pair for the grass-court tie, scheduled to be held in Islamabad on September 14-15.
The PTF chief also said they plan to invite India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi to watch the contest, scheduled for September 14-15, and promised a memorable hospitality to the visiting team and fans.
The Pakistan Tennis Federation has said that the country will host the Indian tennis team for the Davis Cup tie.
No Indian Davis Cup squad has travelled to Pakistan since March 1964 and Bopanna will be in the Indian team which will compete in Islamabad in September for the Asia/Oceania Group title.
No Indian Davis Cup squad has travelled to Pakistan since March 1964 and in that tie, held in Lahore, India had won 4-0.
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