India Davis Cup Team Has Better Chance on Grass Courts vs Korea: SP Misra

Indian Davis Cup team plays South Korea in the Asia-Oceania Group I David Cup second round tie at the grasscourts of Chandigarh club from July 15-17.

Since the Korean players are formidable opponents on hard courts and India's best hard court player Somdev Devvarman is struggling badly these days, it made sense to host India's next Davis Cup tie on grass courts, chairman of selectors SP Misra said.

The last time India hosted a Davis Cup tie on grass courts was against Japan in New Delhi in 2008. India had won that tie 3-2 and current world number six Kei Nishikori was part of the visiting team.

With the advent of Somdev, Yuki Bhambri, Ramkumar Ramanathan and Saketh Myneni, India have preferred hard courts to host Davis Cup ties in the past few years.

"Their number one player Hyeon Chung was top-50 last year. He is a very good player on hard courts. We have depended on Somdev in Davis Cups but his ranking has dipped. Yuki, Ramkumar can play good serve and volley, so grass was the best option for us to host this tie," Misra said, when asked about surprise surface preference.

"And our doubles team can also play well on grass courts. So we have an advantage playing on grass."

India had lost to Czech Republic 1-3 in the World Group play-off to again come back to compete in the Asia/Oceania Group I and got bye in the first round while Korea beat New Zealand 3-1 to make it to the second round.

Asked what prompted them to change surface for just one singles player, who has a good track record on hard courts, Misra reasoned, "Others (other Korean boys are below 200 in ATP list) have not even seen grass courts, so it's advantage India."

Yuki - India's best ranked player

Yuki Bhambri, who is recuperating from an elbow injury, is India's best ranked singles player at 122 and is followed by Myneni (138) and Ramkumar Ramanathan (239).

Somdev is languishing at 314 and if rankings made the criteria for selection, he will certainly miss out on playing against Korea.

Misra said it will be important for Somdev to improve his ranking if he has to be in contention to be selected in the team.

"He has played fabulous and great matches for India in the Davis Cup. There is still some time for the tie and he can improve his ranking," Misra said.

Rohan Bopanna, world number 11 in doubles, is a certainty and in all likelihood will play alongside Myneni.

Chung is best singles player for Korea at 82. He was ranked 51 last year in October. After him, the next best for Korea are Duckhee Lee (231) and Cheong-Eui Kim (396).