Daijiworld Media Network – Seoul
Seoul, Sep 17: India’s top-ranked singles player Sumit Nagal is focused on maintaining a process-driven approach as Team India prepares for its Davis Cup Qualifier tie against South Korea, with a place in the Final 8 at stake.
India enter the tie on the back of a thrilling 3-2 victory over the Netherlands in Bengaluru and are aiming to qualify for the Davis Cup Final 8 for the first time under the current format.
The Indian squad arrived in Seoul early to acclimatise to the conditions and has been training extensively on court and in the gym. Nagal said the team is in good spirits and is making the most of the remaining practice sessions ahead of the matches.
Reflecting on India's win over the Netherlands, Nagal credited Sureshkumar Dhakshineswar for his performances and said the team would look to carry the confidence and energy from the Bengaluru tie into the away contest.
Nagal expects the medium-paced hard courts in Seoul to produce long baseline rallies. With temperatures forecast to remain around 24-25 degrees Celsius, he said the conditions should be comfortable for both teams.
With the pressure of a historic qualification opportunity, Nagal said he prefers to narrow his focus to the immediate task rather than think about the larger outcome. He said concentrating on his footwork, forehand, serve, fitness and recovery helps him manage nerves and stay focused during competition.
The Indian spearhead also dismissed the notion that South Korea have relatively unknown players, pointing to the credentials of Kwon Soon-woo, Hong Seong-chan and Hyeon Chung. He noted that the players have known each other since their junior days and stressed that India would need to respect the quality of the Korean team.
Nagal also praised Sureshkumar Dhakshineswar, recalling that the two have known each other for around a decade. He said Dhakshineswar had overcome injury setbacks and a transition to college tennis before making a strong return to the national setup.
India have, meanwhile, suffered a setback with experienced doubles player Yuki Bhambri ruled out of the tie with a right thigh strain. Nagal acknowledged the loss but expressed confidence in India's doubles options, including N Sriram Balaji, Niki Kaliyanda Poonacha and Anirudh Chandrasekar.
As India prepare for Friday's opening matches, Nagal also called on the Indian community in Seoul and surrounding areas to turn up and support the team in the away tie.