Tennis
Davis Cup: India faces surprise threat from in-form Togo in World Group I play-off
India is set to face Togo in the Davis Cup World Group I play-off this weekend in Delhi, as both teams fight for a spot in the World Group I tie.

New Delhi: India is set to face Togo in the Davis Cup World Group I play-off at the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association (DLTA) in New Delhi on Saturday. The two-day tie will conclude on February 2. The winning team will advance to the World Group I tie in September, while the losing team will drop to World Group II.
Despite being a much lower-ranked team, Togo arrives in Delhi in formidable form. The West African nation has won 10 of its 11 Davis Cup fixtures over the past two years, including a 3-2 win against Indonesia and a dominant 4-0 victory over Latvia at home, which secured its promotion to the World Group I play-offs. Togo’s impressive streak has drawn concern from Indian captain Rohit Rajpal.
"They are hitting the ball pretty well. They are looking good. We were surprised. They look quite talented as well,” Rajpal said at the press conference on Friday.
Togo’s captain, Agnamba Ali, acknowledged the challenge of facing India, while the team’s No. 1 player, Thomas Setodji, emphasized their readiness.
“India is a strong team, and I have seen Indians play on the tour before. We know it is going to be tough, especially in doubles. We know you are doubles experts, but we are ready for it, and we will see on Saturday,” Setodji said.
Players from both teams have assembled in New Delhi after competing in various ATP tournaments worldwide. Historically, India’s best results in the Davis Cup came in 1966, 1974, and 1987, when they finished as runners-up. However, recent performances have not matched past successes, and India is seeking redemption in this tie.
Future plan
Asked about the future of Indian tennis, captain Rajpal revealed ongoing discussions within the federation regarding Indian tennis's future.
"We want to make players travel with coaches and physios as a group. As many successful nations do, we are also in discussions with the Rafael Nadal Tennis Academy in Spain, which can become our base when the next group is formed. Our players will train and adapt to the conditions there and come back in the off-season,” said Rajpal.
He cited badminton as an example of structured player development.
“Every country reaches there in time. We will do that as well. But we need to establish a system like Pullela Gopichand has created in Indian badminton - a centre of excellence from where players will emerge. We will get there,” Rajpal added.
Sasikumar's comeback event
India’s No. 1 player, Sasikumar Mukund, made a comeback to the team after being dropped in 2024. Expressing his excitement, he said, “I always enjoyed the team atmosphere since I was young. Sometimes individual tours get too lonely.”
Mukund also expressed gratitude to his teammates. “Everybody in the team has been extremely kind to me. Ram and Bala, whom I have seen growing up, are doing phenomenally well. I am lucky to be part of the team with such seasoned players and so much to learn from.”
However, he did not hide his emotions about the media coverage of Indian tennis. "As a well-wisher of Indian tennis, I do not enjoy reading about players being equated with numbers and ranks all the time. The depth is returning in India, and we will hopefully hit the pre-COVID numbers soon,” he emphasized.
India’s No. 3 player, Ramkumar, spoke about his recent training. “I did not play all December because of my wedding. I started practicing indoors in January, which did not go well. I came back to Chennai, trained for a few days, and started feeling better. It goes like this in tennis; you have to be in shape. Winning this tie will be a good boost.”
Sriram Balaji, a doubles specialist who played alongside Rohan Bopanna at the Paris Olympics, will pair up with Rithwik Bollipali. Speaking about the conditions at DLTA, Balaji noted that adjusting to the slower courts will take time.
Know your opponents - Togo
Togo, a small West African nation, joined the Davis Cup in 1990. Their best performance came in 1992 when they reached the Europe/Africa Zone II semifinals. The country withdrew from the competition in 2003 and only returned in 2022.
Togo has travelled to India with four players—Thomas Setodji, Liova Ajavon, Hod'abalo Isak Padio, and Akomlo M’lapa—three of whom train in France and one in the United States.
At the pre-match press conference, Togo’s captain, Agnamba Ali, praised his team’s commitment.
“They are prepared for any weather, any conditions, and they have proven since 2022 that they can play against anyone, and the results show. That said, there’s spirit in the team. We are one group of guys chasing the same dream. We will carry that attitude to the finish line.”
The coach added, “We have some intelligent and talented athletes coming up, and I think we are on the verge of making history here.”