Camaraderie, late nights light up Davis Cup camp

Said Paes: “The best part about the camp this time is that the whole team has gotten together really early, not just a couple of days before the tie begins. As a result, we have been able to relax, to practise, get the feel of things and get ourselves together well in advance. Everyone’s smiling and laughing and looking forward to the tie and it feels good.”

Saturday night, while Fazaluddin slept because he says he “wentstraight from the airport to the courts and was exhausted,” all the rest, including Ramesh, went off to catch the `Blue Streak’ showing at a local multiplex. But late nights may not suit everyone. While the others continued practising, a rather peaky-looking Sunil left early for the hotel to get some rest as he is suffering from a sore throat and general tiredness. “I am a little tired and we got back late yesterday. I’ve been playing in Colombo and then Delhi (where he won back-to back junior ITF titles) and need some rest. I’ll be okay.”

Other than that minor hiccup, Ramesh looked happy with the team’s health and injury checklist. Srinath has had a week’s break at home in Mysore and is satisfied with his fitness. “I’m feeling fine and am also more focussed,” he said. Also well-rested and smiling was Fazal, just back after playing some exhibition matches in Dubai, combined with four days of “total practice”.

Ramesh, saying that it was good to have the team get the feel of grass well ahead of thetie, was as yet non-committal about the doubles combination and the second singles player. Asked whether he had asked Srinath or Fazaluddin to pay attention to any particular aspect of their game, Ramesh, said: “It is best really for a player to stick more or less to his own style of play, what he is comfortable with.”

“But,” he added, “Grass suits an attacking player. So you have to work within those parameters. But those who tend to play from well behind the baseline may need to adapt and come in more often. You cannot move in all the time if it is something you do not do and that may not always be the best option, but the basic thing is adaptability.”

Ramesh said that he was happy with the way the players were shaping up and repeated that final decisions would be made in Lucknow. “We still have four-five sessions of play left, so we should not really make a hasty decision. We will have to use those sessions to decide.”

The team flew to Lucknow on Sunday evening, while the Lebanese team isalso expected to reach Lucknow late on Sunday. According to reports, they have had a rather exhausting travel plan Beirut-Dubai-Mumbai-Delhi-Lucknow. The Indians thus, will probably have an earlier look-in at the Oudh Gymkhana courts.