Davis Cup: Paes not to be considered

NEWDELHI:Leander Paes is out of contention but top singles player Yuki Bhambri will make a comeback to the Indian Davis Cup team along with Saketh Myneni when the All India Tennis Association (AITA) selection committee meets on Monday in Thrissur to announce squad for the World Group play-off tie against Canada in September.

The 44-year-old Paes was included in the six-man squad for the previous tie against Uzbekistan in Bengaluru in April but was left out of the final four by captain Mahesh Bhupathi. Upset, Paes had left the venue mid-way into the tie, prompting Bhupathi to reveal on Facebook that he had never promised Paes a spot in the final four and that his action was final nail in the coffin.

The AITA does not want a repeat of any such unsavoury incident and also that Paes is now behind three Indian players --- Rohan Bopanna (21), Divij Sharan (53) and Purav Raja (54) --- in the rankings.

Both Bhambri, who recently beat world number 22 Gael Monfils, and Saketh Myneni had missed the Uzbekistan tie due to their respective injuries.

All the squad members will assemble in New York for a camp at the University of Colombia, a week before the tie, to be played on indoor courts.

“We are following norms. There are players, who are ranked higher than Leander. How can you ignore someone like Bopanna who is ranked 21. The captain has the prerogative to have a squad of his choice,” AITA secretary Hironmoy Chatterjee said. However, he said the door was not yet shut on Paes.