India will take on New Zealand in the Asia-Oceania relegation play-off tie at Chandigarh Lawn Tennis Association grounds from Sept. 14 to Sept. 16, 2012. New Zealand’s Davis Cup non-playing captain Marcel Vos said that the absence of senior players in the Indian side will be an advantage for his team, says a report in Deccan Herald.
Some experienced players are missing in the Indian squad and this will prove to be an advantage for us. All players in our team have had Davis Cup experience. We have been playing in Bangkok for two weeks and the best thing is that Indian weather conditions are similar. We still have five days to practice before the Davis Cup starts,” said Vos.
The New Zealand team for the Davis Cup tie is Jose Statham, Michael Venus, Artem Sitak, Daniel King Turner and Vos.
Meanwhile, India’s doubles pair of Yuki Bhambri and Divij Sharan lost to Sanchai and Sonchat Ratiwatana in the finals of the Shanghai ATP Challenger tournament, says a report in The Hindustan Times.
The Indian pair went down 4-6, 4-6 in straight sets. Both the players are part of the Indian Davis Cup squad that will take on New Zealand.