Davis Cup | India to face New Zealand in first round
India will face New Zealand in the first round of the Davis Cup Asia-Oceania group-I tennis team event. After losing the recent World Group play-off tie 5-0 to Spain, India will take part in the continental event next year at home.
India will play New Zealand in the first round of the Davis Cup Asia-Oceania group-I tennis team event at home from February 3 to 5, reported The Hindu on Saturday.
India who had lost the World Group play-off in the last three years against Serbia, Czech Republic and Spain, hold a head-to-head record of 5-3 against New Zealand, and won the last five times since 2002. New Zealand's last victory against India came in 1978.
If India pulls through against New Zealand, it will play the winner of the match between Uzbekistan and Korea, in April, for a place in the World Group play-off.
New Zealand has three top ranked doubles players in Michael Venus (41), Marcus Daniell (55) and Artem Sitak (61).
Yuki Bhambri and Somdev Devvarman could make a return for India after suffering with injuries over the past few months, even though Saketh Myneni and Ramkumar Ramanathan did well against Spain.
