The All India Tennis Association (AITA) may have given a thumbs-up to the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association’s (DLTA’s) proposal to host India’s World Group Playoff Davis Cup tie against the mighty Spain under the lights. But the decision hasn’t gone down too well with the players.
Mahesh Bhupathi, one of India’s leading lights on the court for over a decade, was first to criticise the move. “I don’t know the reason actually. I would like to know the justification as to why the matches are in the night,” Bhupathi said after inaugurating the 11Even Sports Inter-school Table Tennis Tournament at Khar Gymkhana on Monday.
“I have spoken to a couple of boys and they obviously prefer to play in the day because the heat will hopefully be a lit bit of a benefit to the team. Seriously, these decisions should be taken after speaking to the team.”
The decision to host matches in the evening for the tie, to be played in New Delhi from September 16 to 18, was reportedly to bring in more spectators in the stands. But considering the magnitude of the match, Bhupathi felt India should try and snatch home advantage to the fullest.
“It’s a very, very tough match. Spain has so many players in top-100. They have so many options. We will have to play out of our skin and we need everything to go in our favour and that’s why I think playing at the right time on the right surface is something that we should think carefully about,” said Bhupathi.
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