Mumbai: Anand Amritraj, a former top 100 professional player and long-serving captain of the Davis Cup team, asserts that India’s leading players who decline to participate in the Davis Cup should face some form of consequences.

While the absence of India’s top singles player, Sumit Nagal, and the second-ranked doubles player, Yuki Bhambri, may not have significantly impacted the recent tie against Togo in Delhi, where India secured a 4-0 victory, it is concerning that several prominent players have opted out of national representation in recent matches.

The autonomy of the ATP tour complicates the ability of a national federation to enforce discipline. However, Amritraj believes that the All India Tennis Association (AITA) could exert influence, particularly since entries for prestigious events such as the Olympics and Asian Games are determined by the AITA, and many elite players benefit from the government’s Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS).

“That is where you should apply pressure. I believe it is certainly feasible,” Amritraj remarked during the WTA Mumbai Open. “If you hold any position of influence, you should state: ‘Either you participate in the Davis Cup, or you will not receive this support.’ It is straightforward.”

In the past, AITA has attempted to impose such pressure on players. For instance, it declined to submit Nagal’s nomination for a wildcard entry to the 2024 Australian Open after he chose not to participate in the Davis Cup match against Pakistan. Nagal subsequently qualified and advanced to the second round. Mukund Sasikumar, who returned to the team for the tie against Togo but has previously been absent, has also faced reprimands from AITA.

Anand Amritraj, a prominent figure in Davis Cup doubles alongside his brother Vijay, was the captain when Nagal joined the Davis Cup team. 

“I have a high regard for Sumit, but, unfortunately, he is not participating... it is truly regrettable as he is currently our top player. If we field our strongest team in both singles and doubles, we stand a solid chance of winning that match in September and securing a place in the World Group,” stated Amritraj, who returned to the captaincy for the City of Dreams Cup exhibition doubles match at the Cricket Club of India on Monday.

Throughout his tenure as both player and captain, Amritraj led India to several notable Davis Cup victories and worked with many star players. He believed it was not his responsibility to persuade players to represent their country. The current captain is Rohit Rajpal.

“The motivation must originate from the player. They need to decide to participate before I assume the captaincy,” he remarked.

“It is simply unfathomable to me that if a player is sufficiently ranked and the nation calls upon them, they would decline to play without any financial discussions. Unless they are injured and unable to compete, there should be no doubt about participating in the Davis Cup. Players have 50 weeks in a year to earn their income; they should be willing to dedicate two weeks to the country that nurtured them.”

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