With shots fired amidst hostile undercurrents, Indian tennis simmers

“I just want to say one thing today, shut up. If you really care that much, don’t sit in your AC room and talk. Just get out here and show what you can do.”

And that was how India’s non-playing captain Rohit Rajpal brought the curtains down on the India’s Davis Cup tie against Sweden on Sunday.

Visibly irate, Rajpal hit out – during a press conference - at critics that supposedly questioned his role in the team.

That statement, however, was perhaps the most potent of all actions that came from India during their recent sojourn at Stockholm, where they were well and truly outplayed by the hosts.

With a ticket to the 2024 Davis Cup qualifiers in the offing, the vanquished Indians now find themselves relegated to World Group 1 playoffs.

What’s more, the outcome leaves the Indian tennis community with more questions than answers.

‘Not really comfortable’

After N Sriram Balaji went down to Elias Ymer in straight sets in the opening rubber of the tie, he didn’t hesitate to speak his mind.

“Doubles is my first priority now. Through the year I only play doubles. So, I don’t play singles that much. Not really comfortable right now because I don’t play singles that much.”

So, why then did was Balaji, a player with no singles ranking to boot, picked ahead of two singles players in young Aryan Shah and Siddharth Vishwakarma?

Vishal Uppal, a former Indian Davis Cupper, weighed in on the topic.

“I personally would blood in Aryan or made Siddharth play on day 1 only because they are playing singles regularly and will be sharper on the court,” he said to The Bridge.

Balaji, accustomed to playing doubles all year long, didn’t stand a chance against Ymer, ranked 238 in the world.

Odds stacked against India

In Stockholm, India were up against it from the outset.

From the moment Sumit Nagal pulled out owing to an injury, the visitors had an uphill task. To make matters worse, Yuki’s unavailability spelt more trouble for India.

“Yuki’s absence didn’t help either as I think Yuki and Balaji would’ve been a better doubles combination,” said Uppal.

That said, India’s best chance to get on the board was the doubles rubber where Balalji (ranked 65) teamed up with Ramanathan (ranked 335) against Filip Bergevi (ranked 125) and Andre Goransson (ranked 66).

While it is well known that rankings amount to nothing in the Davis Cup, on paper, the doubles rubber held a semblance of promise for India.

But the outcome, another straight sets victory for the hosts, was anything but encouraging.

And that is where Uppal feels that the players need to put up their hands as well.

“The players also have to take responsibility for their performances,” he said.

But there are matters outside that court that perhaps need addressing as well.

Player-management discord?

From the moment India arrived in Stockholm, a strange sense of tension appeared to prevail over the Indian camp.

“Maybe it’s time to get players in the front row as well?”

That post on social media from Sumit Nagal, in response to a picture of players lining up behind Indian Embassy officials and team management, spoke volumes of a simmering unrest.

“I think the players have stated their stance on several occasions and it’s obvious all is not good,” said Uppal.

Nagal, for one, has been vocal about the lack of support from the All India Tennis Association (AITA) towards his tennis endeavors and doesn’t pull any punches when having to speak on the matter.

Uppal, however, feels that a coming together is needed to address all player-association matters.

“To solve it, we need people to work together keeping in mind the growth of Indian Tennis.”

For now, though, the ball is in the association’s court and urgent moves are needed to placate the hostilities.

As for the players, they will know all too well that when on the court, there is no place to hide, and outcomes are all that matter.