Ramkumar to open Davis tie against Canada rookie

Edmonton, Sept. 15: India’s hopes to get a point on the opening day of the Davis Cup tie against Canada received a boost with Ramkumar Ramanathan drawn to play against debutant Brayden Schnur even as Saketh Myneni was dropped from the squad due to fitness concerns.

Ramkumar, ranked 154, will open India’s campaign at the World Group Play-off tie against the 22-year-old Schnur, ranked 202 while Yuki Bhambri will play a crucial second singles against world number 51 and Canada’s biggest hope Denis Shapovalov.

The Canadian team did not field Vasek Pospisil, world number 82, for the singles, probably since he is going through a rough patch of late.

Pospisil is coming into the tie after five straight losses on the ATP Tour. Interestingly, during Canada’s last tie against Great Britain, it was Pospisil, who had won both his singles rubbers.

India’s non-playing captain Mahesh Bhupathi was forced to pair Rohan Bopanna with Purav Raja instead of Myneni, whose fitness to last five sets has come under scanner.

Bopanna and Raja, who will play only his second Davis Cup tie, will take on seasoned Daniel Nestor and Pospisil.

Raja was brought into the team last minute as a reserve player when N. Sri Ram Balaji, one of the two reserves named initially in the squad, twisted his ankle during the training camp in New York.

On the final day, Yuki will take on Schnur and Ramkumar will lock horns with Shapovalov in the reverse singles.

Bhupathi said the draw has come out exactly they wanted. “The draw is favourable,” he said.