India to play Brazil at home in Davis Cup

New Delhi: India have been drawn to play Brazil at home in their Davis Cup World Group play-off tie Sept 17-19.

Brazil play in India since the last tie between the two countries took place at Pinheiros Sports Club in Sao Paulo in 1991.

The two sides have met twice so far with a 1-1 head-to-head record.

In 1966, India, comprising Ramanathan Krishnan, Jaideep Mukerjea, S.P. Misra, the current non-playing Davis Cup captain, and late Premjit Lall had beaten Brazil 3-2 at Calcutta in the inter-zonal final to reach the Challenge round against Australia.

In 1991, Brazil beat India 4-1 at home.

India, in their last tie in March, lost 3-2 to Russia in the World Group first round in Moscow. They had reached the top tier for the first time since 1998.

India's No.1 player Somdev Devvarman, ranked 109, has made rapid strides on the circuit while second singles player Rohan Bopanna, ranked 490, is an experienced Davis Cup campaigner.

On the other hand, Brazil boast of a strong side with both their singles players Thomaz Belluci (26th ranked) and Daniel Marcos (91) in top-100.

They would be looking to make their first World Group appearance since 2003 when Gustavo Kuerten was in the team.

Misra, however, is not unduly worried.

"A home tie is always welcome. Home advantage plays a crucial role in Davis Cup and we will do everything to use it to our advantage. Brazil has a good team with top singles player like Thomaz Belluci in their side, but playing in India will throw a different challenge," Misra told IANS.

"They also have a good doubles team of Marcelo Melo and Bruno Soares but with Leander (Paes) and Mahesh (Bhupathi) around, we don't have anything to worry.

"Needless to say, we will go for hardcourts as we no longer have grasscourts specialists, and our best singles player Somdev Devvarman has grown up playing on harcourts."

The news must have delighted Somdev, who expressed wish for a home tie on the twitter page.

India's last home tie was forfeited after Australia's boycott from the third round of the Davis Cup last year over security concerns.

India have finished runner-up on three occassion, in 1966, 1974 and 1987, but is yet to lift the Cup.

On the other hand, Brazil, after gaining a bye in the opening round, whitewashed Uruguay 5-0 in the Americas Zone Group I second round in Bauru.

Brazil is a two-time semi-finalist, having reached the last four in 1992 and 2000. Prior to the creation of the World Group in 1981, it reached the interzonal final in 1966 and 1971.