India have managed to maintain their place in World Group 1 ever for the reason that new Davis Cup format got here into impact in 2019. This time final yr, they needed to undergo a playoff in opposition to Denmark solely, thrashing them 4-0 on the grass courts of the Gymkhana Club in New Delhi.

However, that was a Danish workforce with out Holger Rune, whose exceptional ascent in international tennis has led to him reaching as excessive as World No. 9 at current. The 19-year-old additionally received the Paris Masters, defeating Novak Djokovic within the ultimate, in October.

One final dive into the archive to get you within the temper for the #DavisCup Qualifiers 🥳

Spotted a @NoahYannick however, the place and when? 👇@FFTennis pic.twitter.com/4WyQkbUi9c

— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) February 2, 2023

Bolstered by the house crowd in Hillerod, Denmark, in beneficial situations on indoor exhausting courts, Rune can have the higher hand, tipping the scales in Denmark’s favour. He will open the tie in opposition to Yuki Bhambri on Friday. India will, nevertheless, hope to prevail within the different rubbers, particularly in singles in opposition to Danish No. 2 August Holmgren, who takes on Sumit Nagal on the second day.

Nagal, whose 2022 season was derailed resulting from harm, is the final Indian singles participant to have performed in the primary draw of a Grand Slam. By entrusting him with the essential fixture, non-playing captain Rohit Rajpal and coach Zeeshan Ali have determined that he stays India’s finest hope in singles.

India slumped to a disappointing defeat in Norway, and regardless of enjoying one other top-10 singles participant in Casper Ruud, they’d really feel like they missed a possibility to not less than take it deep, by shedding the doubles tie. That religion could be renewed because of the return of veteran Rohan Bopanna, recent off a run to the Australian Open blended doubles ultimate with Sania Mirza, who performed a pivotal function in India’s win in New Delhi final yr.

Bopanna will accomplice Bhambri in doubles, and open the day’s play on Saturday. If the necessity arises for a fourth match, the 2 international locations’ premier singles gamers, Nagal and Rune, will conflict after the doubles.

Both Prajnesh Gunneswaran and Ramkumar Ramanathan stay in India’s ranks and could be subbed in for a last-minute change. Denmark’s determination to depart Rune out of the doubles might change if the tie is 1-1 going into the match, which may result in Ramanathan changing Bhambri as Bopanna’s accomplice. Either one of many duo may be referred to as upon for a possible tie-breaking fifth match on Saturday.

Fixtures:

Friday, February 3: Holger Rune vs Yuki Bhambri; August Holmgren vs Sumit Nagal
Saturday, February 4: Johannes Ingildsen/Christian Sigsgaard vs Yuki Bhambri/Rohan Bopanna; Rune vs Nagal; Holmgren vs Bhambri.

The matches shall be telecast dwell on DD Sports beginning 8.30pm on each days.