Ahead of their highly anticipated away Davis Cup tie against South Korea, the Indian tennis team has made one thing clear: when you wear the national colors, the pressure is entirely different, but so is the passion.
Addressing the media in a pre-tie press conference, India’s singles spearhead Sumit Nagal painted a vivid picture of the intense, partisan atmosphere expected in the upcoming clash. Sharing the dais with non-playing captain Rohit Rajpal, N. Sriram Balaji, Dhakshineshwar Suresh, and youngster Manas Dhamne, Nagal emphasized that the Davis Cup demands a unique level of grit.
“When you have your country written behind you, there’s more pressure… but it gives you a lot of energy,” Nagal explained. Comparing the team event to playing individual Grand Slams, he added, “The noise is right in your face. You can see the team, how bad they want to win. It’s just more heart comes into play, and more desperation comes out to win for the country”.
Commitment Above the Calendar
With the Asian Games and the regular ATP Tour overlapping, scheduling can be a nightmare for touring professionals. However, Dhakshineshwar Suresh swiftly dismissed any notion of a conflict.
“Playing Asian Games doesn’t happen very often,” Suresh stated. “Whenever we get the chance to represent India, we show up and we try our best. We are proud to play for the country and we never miss that chance”. Doubles specialist Sriram Balaji echoed the exact same sentiment when asked about his own schedule.
The Doubles Dilemma
One of the crucial talking points heading into the tie is India’s doubles combination. Balaji confirmed that the squad has been busy experimenting in practice sessions to find the best pair.
“We’ve been practicing different combinations the last two days,” Balaji revealed, noting they have run sets with Dhakshineshwar Suresh, Niki Poonacha, and Anirudh Chandrasekar. Unwilling to give away India’s tactical hand too early, Balaji added that the final decision will depend heavily on the outcome of the first day’s matches, a decision he will make in tandem with Captain Rajpal. While acknowledging the confidence fans back home have in India securing the doubles point, Balaji maintained a pragmatic approach, noting that the Davis Cup is a “different ball game”.
Slow Courts and Familiar Foes
On the tactical front, the Indians are preparing for a grinding, physical battle. Nagal assessed the courts as “medium, slow-medium, [with] low bounce,” predicting that fans will witness a “lot of long rallies and no quick points”. Despite the grueling conditions, Nagal remained optimistic, noting that the longer baseline exchanges suit everyone and that he expects to enjoy the rallies.
The Indian camp is well aware of the threat posed by the South Korean squad. Captain Rohit Rajpal expressed immense respect for the hosts, emphasizing that the Koreans are a “tough team” and that India is treating the encounter with the seriousness it deserves.
For Nagal, the Korean roster features familiar foes. He noted growing up and competing against players like Hong Seong-chan and Chung Yun-seong since their Under-12 days, while also acknowledging his history playing Soon-woo Kwon. “All three of them are really good competitors… and I think they play very hard when they are playing for Korea,” Nagal observed.
With the weight of history on their shoulders—India has reached the Davis Cup finals three times in the past—the squad appears locked in and ready to embrace the pressure of the modern format. As Nagal put it, the team looks forward to a good match and hopes for the best