Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Feb 6: The faster playing conditions in Bengaluru are expected to suit Dhakshineswar Suresh more than India’s top singles player Sumit Nagal as the hosts take on the Netherlands in the Davis Cup Qualifier Round One tie, starting Saturday.

With Nagal returning from a minor hip injury, the Indian camp is likely to lean heavily on Dhakshineswar’s ability to exploit the quicker surface, especially in the opening singles rubber. The Bengaluru courts are rewarding first-strike tennis and aggressive shot-making, an area where Dhakshineswar has consistently shown his ability to thrive under pressure.

While Nagal has been recovering well and appeared increasingly comfortable during practice sessions, questions remain over how his body will respond once the tie moves into high-intensity match play. The physical demands of singles at altitude, coupled with the pace of the surface, could test his movement and endurance if matches stretch into longer rallies. However, Nagal is familiar with the conditions, having recently played in Bengaluru during the Bengaluru Open and the World Tennis League.

Dhakshineswar’s role could once again prove pivotal, much like in Switzerland last year when he delivered crucial singles victories in India’s historic away win. He had set the tone by winning the opening rubber there, allowing Nagal to settle into the tie before going on to win both his singles matches.

The Netherlands are also expected to enjoy the faster conditions, with their players more accustomed to such surfaces. However, the visitors have been weakened by the absence of their top two singles players — Tallon Griekspoor (world No.29) and Botic van de Zandschulp (world No.67) — which has evened out the contest to some extent.

Even within the Indian camp, there is belief that the withdrawal of the top Dutch players has turned the tie into an intriguing battle, giving the hosts a realistic chance of registering a second consecutive upset win in the Davis Cup.

The Dutch challenge will be led by world No.88 Jesper de Jong, who has been steadily climbing the rankings. De Jong has already notched up notable wins over top-30 players, including Jakub Mensik (world No.16), compatriot Griekspoor and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (world No.26), and is expected to pose the biggest singles threat to India.

India, meanwhile, will look to capitalise against Guy den Ouden, ranked 162, who will be making his Davis Cup debut. Den Ouden has largely competed on the ITF and ATP Challenger circuits in the 2025 season and lacks experience at the highest level of international team competition.

For India, controlling early momentum in the singles rubbers will be crucial, particularly in light of Nagal’s fitness concerns. How effectively Dhakshineswar can take advantage of the conditions may well determine the direction of the tie.

India’s doubles strength has received a significant boost with the return of Yuki Bhambri, who is currently enjoying a career-best ranking of 20. Bhambri’s presence adds depth and experience to the doubles combination, giving India a strong chance of securing the crucial third rubber.

Bhambri will partner N Sriram Balaji, who was not part of the original squad and replaces Rithvik Bollipalli. The Indian pair will face Sandre Arends and David Pel of the Netherlands.

Explaining the selection call, non-playing captain Rohit Rajpal said Balaji’s recent match sharpness played a key role. “Balaji has been playing back-to-back tournaments and recently had a very good result in Bahrain. Rithvik has been playing well too, but he hasn’t played actively for the last month-and-a-half or two months. It was a tough decision, but we felt it was better to give him more time to gradually come back,” Rajpal said.

With surface conditions, player fitness and selection dynamics all coming into play, the two-day contest is expected to be closely fought as India look to make home advantage count against a depleted but competitive Dutch side.

The losing team will return to the World Group I ties in September, while the winners will advance to the Qualifiers second round, moving a step closer to the eight-team Davis Cup Finals.

Match schedule:

Saturday: Sumit Nagal vs Guy den Ouden; Dhakshineswar Suresh vs Jesper de Jong

Sunday: Yuki Bhambri/N Sriram Balaji vs Sandre Arends/David Pel; Sumit Nagal vs Jesper de Jong; Dhakshineswar Suresh vs Guy den Ouden