Davis Cup 2020- India

[sameerph]

These are the performances of our top 3 singles players this year-

Win/Loss
Prajnesh- 5/6
Sumit- 1/4
RamK - 3-7

Nothing much to separate between RamK and Sumit in terms of form but if the surface is fast than RamK should be preferred. I guess they may decide on form in practice.

This is the form book of 2 Croatians this year who can be their #2 player -

Win/Loss
Borna Gojo - 7/6 ( but lost against Sid Rawat in Bangaluru)
Nino Serdarusic - 5/6

Croatians have played a lot more matches than our players.

[Dinesh]

Gojo’s loss to Sid is very misleading and shouldn’t be accounted for. That Bengaluru tournament surprised us with a lot of upset wins owing to the altitude. Gojo used to be the top singles player for Wake Forest where Sid Banthia is currently playing. His height and game is probably well suited for the type of court Croats have picked for the tie and the guy has an equally impressive resume as any of our top singles players and has had played almost everywhere in the Challenger circuit. I wouldn’t write him off. Ramk should be our ideal #1 for Indoor Hard and Prajnesh #2 given the expedience and maturity.

[Rajiv]

Stop Press !!!!

Dodig is injured and will not play the doubles , Our Chances for the doubles become 51-49 % or probably even higher , assuming Boppana/ Leander pair up.

Also it is now official , Coric too will be missing from the final line up.

This is the Croatian Captain in his daily briefings...

The most important news is the injury to Ivan Dodig, who due to wrist problems will not be ready for the Indians.

It is a small blow for our team because Ivan has been a great support in doubles for many years, but Franko on the other hand is very good quality and we hope to win this match. Besides Ivan, there are also absences from Ćorić and Mektić, so at the moment we are a little decimated, but we are positive, we still have players and we believe in the best outcome - says Marin, who invites the spectators to fill the hall as much as possible.

- Who will be the other player - Borna Gojo or Nino Serdarusic, I will announce on the eve of the draw on Thursday - added Martic, who is extremely pleased with the atmosphere in the team, which will again be led by Marin Cilic.

[Rajiv]

Indian team composition on expected lines, and this is the complete draw.

Match 1) Gojo, Borna v Gunneswaran, Prajnesh.
Match 2) Cilic, Marin v Ramanathan, Ramkumar
Match 3)Pavic, Mate,Skugor, Franko v Bopanna Rohan , Paes, Leander
Match 4) Cilic, Marin v Gunneswaran, Prajnesh
Match 5) Gojo, Borna v Ramanathan, Ramkumar.

Match 1 & 5 will become the fulcrum of the tie, after the doubles which hopefully should be in our favour.

[jayakris]

I think it is a bit of a mistake to have RB and LP play together. RamK with either of them would be what I would send in, if I were the captain. If we were to ever roll the dice, it is with RamK, the best young doubles player we have. But then, if he is playing singles instead of sumit, we don't have a choice but to hope that RB-LP will jell. They never really have, but they will be fine too.

[PKBasu]

RB-LP have a better chance against Mektic-Skugor than Mektic-Dodig. But even Skugor is ranked above Bopanna in doubles, so our pair will need to really gel well to win that crucial point.

[PKBasu]

RamK is definitely the correct choice on an indoor hard (or grass) court. We need to make sure that we win both the singles matches against Croatia’s second singles player.

[sameerph]

Prajnesh against Gojo on court now.

2-2 in first set. Looks even match at the start.

[sameerph]

3-3 now. Praj is 0-3 on breakpoints He is creating more chances on Gojo serve here and holding his own comfortably so far.

[sameerph]

And now Praj breaks for 4-3.

[sameerph]

And Praj takes the first set 6-3 by breaking again.

[sameerph]

Praj down 0-2 in second set. 18 mins im first 2 games with lots of deuces and breakpoints but Gojo the key points..

[sameerph]

All easy holds after that and Gojo takes the second set 6-4.

Gojo made a lot of unforced errors in first set but has now steadied himself and is putting in big serves too.

On to the decider.

[sameerph]

And Praj now down a break 1-2 in the third set.

Gojo has all the momentum now.

[RohitG]

Who are our potential group I opponents?