New Delhi:
Despite Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna's loss in the doubles of the Davis Cup World Group play-off tie against South Africa, chances are still alive for India to reach the World Group for the first time in eleven years.
India leads the tie 2-1 and need one more win out of two reverse singles, to be played at Ellis Park arena. Somdev Devvarman and Rohan Bopanna will play their reverse singles on Sunday.
Somdev will play the first rubber against World number 189 Rik De Voest, while Bopanna will face Izak Van Der Merwe who is ranked 198 spots higher than him in the 2nd match.
India's Davis Cup captain S P Misra asserted that his team was disappointed but not rattled by defeat in the doubles rubber and his boys were in 'great spirit' ahead of the tie-deciding reverse singles.
Misra hinted that if India wins the tie after the first match, Yuki Bhambri could make his debut in the Cup.
Meanwhile, Somdev said it will be South Africa who will be under pressure as they have to win both the matches on Sunday.
"I am ready for my match against Rik. The pressure is still on SA. I hope to finish the job off. We both know each others game well as we train together and share the same coach," Somdev said.
Both India and South Africa are out of the World Group since 1998. India had lost to Italy 1-4 to be relegated in 1998.
India leads the tie 2-1 and need one more win out of two reverse singles, to be played at Ellis Park arena. Somdev Devvarman and Rohan Bopanna will play their reverse singles on Sunday.
Somdev will play the first rubber against World number 189 Rik De Voest, while Bopanna will face Izak Van Der Merwe who is ranked 198 spots higher than him in the 2nd match.
India's Davis Cup captain S P Misra asserted that his team was disappointed but not rattled by defeat in the doubles rubber and his boys were in 'great spirit' ahead of the tie-deciding reverse singles.
Misra hinted that if India wins the tie after the first match, Yuki Bhambri could make his debut in the Cup.
Meanwhile, Somdev said it will be South Africa who will be under pressure as they have to win both the matches on Sunday.
"I am ready for my match against Rik. The pressure is still on SA. I hope to finish the job off. We both know each others game well as we train together and share the same coach," Somdev said.
Both India and South Africa are out of the World Group since 1998. India had lost to Italy 1-4 to be relegated in 1998.
