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Knee injury forces Bopanna to withdraw from Davis Cup tie
NEW DELHI: Playing Spain is always tough and for the important World Group play-off tie, they are bringing their full squad. But, for hosts India, all doesn’t seem
NEW DELHI: Playing Spain is always tough and for the important World Group play-off tie, they are bringing their full squad. But, for hosts India, all doesn’t seem well. With top singles players Somdev Devvarman and Yuki Bhambri already injured, India’s highest-ranked men’s doubles star Rohan Bopanna also joined the injured list on Saturday. Bopanna pulled out from the Davis Cup squad that will face the Rafa Nadalled team from September 16-18 citing a knee injury at the RK Khanna stadium.
“Bopanna informed the chairman of the selection committee that due to a knee injury which he suffered during US Open, he has been advised two weeks rest from competition,” the All India Tennis Association (AITA) said in a statement.
“Hence he has requested for withdrawal from the Davis Cup tie against Spain which is going to be held in Delhi from 16-18 September 2016. His request was considered and accepted by the committee.”
The selectors have decided to include young Sumit Nagal in the playing four members. The 19-year-old won last year’s Wimbledon junior doubles title.
Saketh Myneni and Ramkumar Ramanathan are expected to shoulder the singles responsibilities while Leander Paes and Nagal will play the doubles rubber.
Keen to get back into the World Group, Spain has named the 14-time Grand Slam champion and world No 13 David Ferrer in singles. French Open champs Feliciano Lopez and Marc Lopez should play doubles.
It will be the fourth meeting between the two countries and the first since 1965.
