3 months ago
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India's newest Davis Cup leader Dhakshineswar Suresh says his imagination tally for the state is "just the beginning" arsenic helium prepares to measurement into full-fledged contention connected the ATP Tour aft completing his studies astatine a U.S. university.
Pursuing connection studies astatine the Wake Forest University, the 25-year-old volition implicit his grade successful May this year.
In conscionable 2 ties since making his debut successful September 2025, Dhakshineswar boasts an awesome 4-0 record, with 3 of those wins coming against the Netherlands successful Bengaluru past weekend.
"It's a agelong mode to go. It's conscionable the beginning," said Dhakshineswar, who matched Leander Paes' feat of winning 3 matches successful a azygous necktie backmost successful 2004 against Japan.
Following Dhakshineswar's superlative show, India edged the Netherlands 3-2 to advancement to the 2nd circular of the Davis Cup Qualifiers, wherever they volition conscionable Korea successful September.
"I'll spell backmost to the US to decorativeness my studies, past travel down successful May and fig retired my schedule. Once that's sorted, I'll commencement getting into the Tour and hole for the adjacent Davis Cup," helium said.
On Dhakshinewar's singular record, skipper Rohit Rajpal said, "There aren’t galore players who spell 4-0 successful Davis Cup rubbers, particularly against prime opponents. He keeps coming up with large serves and large forehands. I anticipation helium keeps enjoying his tennis and keeps performing."
Dhakshineswar said representing India had brought retired a antithetic broadside of his game.
"It's a antithetic feeling erstwhile you’re playing for your country. You’re not conscionable playing for yourself, you’re playing for the full nation. I played immoderate antithetic tennis successful these matches and I’m truly arrogant of that," helium said.
The gangly Chennai-born player, who played marathon singles and doubles matches implicit 2 days, credited the enactment unit and squad situation for his betterment and consistency.
"The physios and everyone took attraction of maine truly well. Team chemistry connected and disconnected the tribunal makes a immense difference. Everyone trusting maine helps maine play bully tennis," helium added.
Rajpal besides lauded an injured Sumit Nagal for starring the squad contempt being acold from afloat fitness.
"Sumit was not adjacent 50 per cent fit. He had a people 2 teardrop successful his hep and we were moving time and nighttime with the physios. But helium fought similar a tiger and led the squad similar an India fig 1 should." Rajpal singled retired the publication of the enactment staff, particularly the physios, and said the necktie underlined India’s increasing depth.
"With these guys, a beardown doubles squad and the seat spot we present have, India is simply a pugnacious squad to beat. If we play to our potential, we tin instrumentality connected anybody successful the world," helium said.
Nagal, who mislaid some his singles matches aft a three-week wounded layoff, admitted it was a pugnacious week but felt encouraged by his fight.
"It was disappointing to get injured earlier specified an important tie, but to travel retired and vie aft not playing oregon practising was not easy. The doubles constituent was important and DK played astonishing tennis," helium said, adding that helium would resume preparations successful Chennai.
Looking up to the adjacent necktie against Korea, Rajpal said readying would statesman aft the celebrations.
"We’ll commencement strategising tomorrow, wherever they play us, connected what surface. I enactment successful changeless interaction with the players. Team enactment and readying is simply a corporate process," helium said.
