Davis Cup: Bhupathi picks Bopanna ahead of Leander Paes

New Delhi : India's non-playing Davis Cup Captain Mahesh Bhupathi picked Rohan Bopanna ahead of veteran Leander Paes for the Davis Cup match against Uzbekistan in Bengaluru. 

Paes' Davis Cup world record will have to be put on hold. The 18-time Grand Slam champion is tied with Italian Nicola Pietrangeli for most wins in doubles in Davis Cup history. The two players have 42 wins.

Bhupathi said that the focus should be on winning all the matches instead of obsessing over one. India’s doubles combination for the tie has been a subject of speculation ever since Bhupathi picked four specialist singles players for the tie.

His decision to keep veteran Paes and Bopanna in reserves raised quite a few eyebrows but one of the two was certain to make the squad after Yuki Bhambri pulled out owing to an injury breakdown.

 

India will take on Uzbekistan in an Asia/Oceania Zone Group 1 tie on Saturday.