From being ‘banned’ for pulling out of national duty to leading India’s Davis Cup charge against Togo, Sasikumar Mukund has come a long way in the last one year.
On Saturday, the 28-year old will be hoping to live up to the expectations that come with being the highest ranked player in the fray.
Or not. Having hobbled out on his Davis Cup debut at Lucknow against Morocco in 2023, Mukund’s return to the team comes with a lot of learning and a tempering of expectations.
“Hopefully tomorrow is my chance to redeem myself, if I can get past the finish line and give the team what they’re expecting from me,” a poker-faced Mukund said during the draw at the DLTA Stadium ahead of the tie.
Mukund has been drawn to play Liova Ajavon in the opening match on Saturday. Asked about his opponents and the pressure to get a winning start, Mukund was equally non-committal.
“I don’t have the habit of watching opponents because I think it really doesn’t matter in tennis.
“As for pressure, it’s a little nerves here and there. At the end of the day, it’s a tennis match and no one’s going to die if you lose it. I don’t know if I can use the word pressure for that feeling. Maybe your body feels a tingling and all that but I think pressure is too big a word.
“What I believe in is more about what you are bringing to the table on that given day. There are no expectations at the moment, I think anything can happen anytime and we have had a rough couple of years. I expect to have a good energy on that day, try and compete well and support whoever is playing,” a stoic Mukund told The Hindu.
Ramkumar Ramanathan will take on Thomas Setodji, the only Togo player with an ATP ranking against his name at 1256, in the two singles on the opening day.
The experienced N. Sriram Balaji will partner Rithvik Bollipalli against Setodji and Isak Padio in the doubles before reversing the singles line-up on Day Two.
The matches will be best-of-three sets with the winner of the tie advancing to World Group I while the losing team will compete in World Group II in September.
Saturday: Sasikumar Mukund vs Leova Ayite Ajavon; Ramkumar Ramanathan vs Thomas Setodji
Sunday: Sriram / Rithvik Choudary Bollipalli vs Setodji / Isak Padio; Mukund vs Setodji; Ramkumar vs Ajavon.
Live on DD Sports, 1200 hrs onwards; entry free.
Published – February 01, 2025 10:18 am IST
