Davis Cup 2024- India

[PKBasu]

It'll be funny to have Sweden trying to run away from clay in order to neutralise Sumit. Delicious!

[Rajiv]

The Ymer Brothers are no pushovers and infact they are quality players, and a Davis Cup home tie brings out a best for any player and considering it is home and the brothers standard of play, I would put Sumit and the brothers at 50-50 and definately ahead of Ram.
Only the Dbls would we be considered having some sort of a edge.
So it won't be a surprise if the results don't work out the way we are expecting.

[arjun2761]

I think many of us are actually expecting a loss!

If Sumit continues his surge to be a solid top 100 player then it could become a 50-50 tie on their home courts. That is, I would give us a small edge in 2 singles, a slightly bigger edge in the doubles and substantial underdog in 2 singles.

[ornatebrute]

Mikael Ymer has retired.

[Rajiv]

Oh really, not aware of it, as the computer shows him at 201.

[ornatebrute]

He felt that he was targetted by the dope testers when he lost the case.
https://x.com/mikaelymer/status/1695117 ... xS5wBzn3bg

Also - some more interesting news here: It says something that Sweden's fourth and fifth best tennis players at that time have given up tennis and are playing padel instead.
https://x.com/aetennis_/status/17592793 ... xS5wBzn3bg

No reason for us to lose here.

[Rajiv]

Ok checked further he has officially retired aged only 24 after missing out 3 doping tests.
Retiring could be a a grey area which he might be exploiting to make a comeback as he is only 24.

[arjun2761]

Mikael Ymer has retired.

Their number 3 is also in the 200s, so could be pretty good at their home against our current #2. Does increase our chance by a bit but still 50-50 in my opinion unless our singles players continue to play well outside India…

[sameerph]

^^^ Their #3 Dragos Nicolae Maadaras ranked 272 has not played anywhere since August last year, did not play their last davis cup match, seems to be injured. So, if he does not get fit, their #2 singles player be ranked 300+ about similar level where mostly RamK/Mukund would be although they are currently ranked in 400's.

[rajitghosh]

Sad for a country that produced the likes of Borg, Wilander, Edberg and Jarryd. What a fall!!

[Atithee]

Well, that was almost 15-20 years ago. Things change. It’s a small population there.

[Rajiv]

Sad for a country that produced the likes of Borg, Wilander, Edberg and Jarryd. What a fall!!

Apart from these there were Soldering , Johanson , Bjorkman , Magnus Norman , Joqim Nystrom , Thomas Enquist , Nicalus Kulti just to name a few in the top flight not to mention the numerous numbers in the 100 to 300 category over the years and with such a rich tradition and that too from a European nation is nothing but total careless mismanagement of such a rich tradition and than too to see right now the immigrants like the Yemer brother's being the leading players.

@Atithee , small population doesn't necessarily indicate a upside down situation , look at Denmark with similar population , but they have kept their rich badminton tradition alive right from the 60;s and regularly come up with world class players , so it is all about managing the system which the swedes have done terribly to destroy it.

[Atithee]

^^Agree, but small numbers lead to a rapid decline with even a small misstep is my point. Perhaps focus has shifted to golf or winter sports? I’ve no idea.

[prasen9]

Badminton is less competitive than tennis but still yes, Denmark have done well to keep the pipeline. Egypt and Pakistan big time have slipped in squash I think. Nigeria keeps doing fine in TT. We'll see if these niche cultures keep sustaining themselves.

[arjun2761]

Badminton is less competitive than tennis but still yes, Denmark have done well to keep the pipeline. Egypt and Pakistan big time have slipped in squash I think. Nigeria keeps doing fine in TT. We'll see if these niche cultures keep sustaining themselves.

https://www.psaworldtour.com/rankings/

Egypt pretty much still rules Squash. They have 5 of the top 8 men and 4 of the top 8 women.

Agree with the premise though. In less worldwide competitive sports (badminton or javelin throw), having one or two top level academies is sufficient to do well whereas in more competitive sports (e.g., soccer/football, or track events like 100m) you need a much deeper pool and more top level academies to reach the top, so harder to reach the top and harder to sustain the excellence.