Put the screws on gamers who refuse Davis Cup responsibility: Anand Amritraj

The absence of India singles No.1 Sumit Nagal and doubles No.2 Yuki Bhambri might not have been felt within the tie in opposition to lowly Togo at Delhi over the weekend (India received 4-0), however a few of India’s high gamers have stayed away from nationwide responsibility in the previous few ties.

The independence of the ATP tour makes it onerous for a nationwide federation to crack the whip. However with entries for occasions just like the Olympics and Asian Video games finalised by the All India Tennis Affiliation (AITA) and a few high tennis gamers being beneficiaries of the federal government’s Goal Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), that’s the place the federation may act, felt Amritraj.

“That’s the place you need to put the screws on them. I believe you possibly can undoubtedly do this,” Amritraj stated on the sidelines of the WTA Mumbai Open. “Should you’re in any sort of place with some leverage, you need to say: “Both you play Davis Cup, otherwise you received’t get this”. Easy.”

AITA has tried to “put the screws” on some gamers up to now. It refused to ship Nagal’s nomination for a wildcard entry to the 2024 Australian Open after he opted out of the Davis Cup tie in opposition to Pakistan. Nagal got here by means of qualification and reached the second spherical. Mukund Sasikumar, who returned to the group in opposition to Togo however has stayed away up to now, has additionally been reprimanded by AITA.

Anand Amritraj, a Davis Cup doubles stalwart with brother Vijay, by the way, was captain when Nagal entered the Davis Cup fold.

“I like Sumit, however why he wouldn’t play… it’s actually a disgrace as a result of he’s our greatest participant proper now. If we play our greatest group in each singles and doubles, we’ve a great likelihood of successful that September match and getting within the World Group,” stated Amritraj, who was again within the captain’s nook for the Metropolis of Goals Cup exhibition doubles match at Cricket Membership of India on Monday.

As participant and captain, Amritraj oversaw some well-known Davis Cup wins by India, and likewise star gamers within the setup. It was not the captain’s job, he felt, to persuade gamers to show up for nationwide responsibility. Rohit Rajpal is the present captain.

“The need has to come back from inside. The participant has to determine earlier than I get into the captain’s chair that he desires to play,” he stated.

“To me, it’s simply inconceivable that if you’re ranked excessive sufficient and the nation desires you to play, you wouldn’t play with none monetary dialog. Except you’re injured and may’t stroll on the courtroom. Apart from that, there ought to be no query whether or not you’re going to play Davis Cup. You’ve obtained 50 weeks within the 12 months to make your cash; two weeks you need to be capable to give to the nation you grew up in.”