Great comeback, but team needs younger players: Akhtar Ali
September 19th, 2010 - 9:35 pm ICT by IANS
Kolkata, Sep 19 (IANS) Ace tennis coach Akhtar Ali Sunday praised India’s dramatic 3-2 comeback win against Brazil to stay in the Davis Cup World Group, but cautioned that the team immediately needed two-three youngsters, including a singles player, to give support to the young Somdev Devvarman.
Ali also expressed his disappointment with Yuki Bhambri opting to play in a tournament when he should have been “training with the Davis Cup team, particularly with the likes of Leander (Paes) and Mahesh (Bhupathi).”
The 71-year-old Ali was, however, all praise for the team’s tremendous performance after being down 0-2 on the opening day of the World Group play-off against the Latin American nation.
“In Davis Cup, we have never won from being 0-2 down. This is indeed remarkable. The way the boys triumphed under pressure is indeed remarkable,” he said.
Ali said this was the first time that the Indians opted to play on the hardcourt surface which suited Somdev’s style of play. “Thomaz Bellucci could not withstand the tremendous heat and had a heat stroke after conceding the first stroke. I always knew that if Somdev wins the first set then that would be the end of the Brazilian under the given condition”.
He also praised the gangling Rohan Bopanna for playing the reverse singles match like a “great champion” and coasting India to victory.
Asked how Indian tennis should look ahead now, Ali said the team immediately needed two-three young players. “We particularly need a good singles player to support Somdev. Rohan is 30-plus and basically a doubles player now. And Leander and Mahesh are too old for singles.”
He also felt that ageing warhorses Pes and Bhupathi will not play for more than a year in Davis Cup. “Then it will become difficult for India. We need two-three players, one of whom should be a singles specialist.”.
On Yuki Bambri, he said: “I am very disappointed with Yuki. He should have been there training with the Davis Cup team.
“I understand he is playing elsewhere. But Davis cup is a completely different ball game. He would have learnt a lot by practising with Leander and Mahesh,” Ali said.
“I think, Yuki is being wrongly advised.”
- Mahesh Bhupathi opts out of Davis Cup tie - Mar 06, 2012
- Davis Cup: Somdev to spearhead India's challenge against Serbia - Jan 29, 2011
- It's for AITA to decide Olympics line-up: Bhupathi - Feb 09, 2012
- Paes' Olympic partner hangs fire - Jan 01, 2012
- National Tennis: Vishnu, Yuki breeze into semis - Oct 13, 2011
- Davis Cup: Somdev and Bopanna outclassed, India go 0-2 down - Sep 16, 2011
- Davis Cup: Somdev to lead India's challenge against Japan - Aug 19, 2011
- Aircel to sponsor Indian Davis Cup team - Sep 09, 2011
- Somdev to lead Indian challenge in Davis Cup, CWG - Aug 13, 2010
- Davis Cup: Somdev happy with weather and courts - Sep 15, 2011
- India may go back to grass if they play at home - Jun 20, 2011
- Yuki skips Moscow Davis Cup tie, Sanam comes in - Feb 18, 2010
- Davis Cup: India have a tough battle against Serbia - Mar 03, 2011
- Somdev slips 19 places to 89 - Sep 26, 2011
- We belong in World Group: Paes, Bhupathi - Sep 19, 2010
Tags: ali, davis cup, davis cup team, disappointment, doubles player, heat stroke, indian tennis, indians, kolkata, latin american nation, leander paes, mahesh bhupathi, opening day, rohan bopanna, singles player, somdev devvarman, tennis coach, three youngsters, world group, yuki bhambri