India face tough challenge in Davis Cup World Group play-off; to take on Serbia

New Delhi, April 8 (IANS): India will be hosting 2013 finalists Serbia in the Davis Cup tennis World Group play-off Sep 12-14.

Serbia will be travelling to India looking to continue its seven-year-long presence in the world group. This is unusual territory for the Serbian team, which has made the quarter-finals or better every year since 2010.

For India, this tie represents a chance to return to the Davis Cup’s top table, having spent 2012 and 2013 in Asia/Oceania Zone Group I.

India have been in impressive form in this year’s competition, securing a 5-0 win against Chinese Taipei in the first round before defeating South Korea 3-1 in a potentially tricky encounter away in Busan.

However, Serbia will undoubtedly present a greater challenge for the Indian team. The 2010 champions may have suffered a loss to the Swiss dream team of Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka in the World Group first round this year, but Serbia’s form in recent years has seen them become a serious force to reckoned with.

The Serbians recorded a 4-1 victory in the most recent meeting between the two nations, which was also the last time Serbia competed in a World Group play-off, in 2009.