NEW DELHI, DEC 13: Indian tennis is right now full of questions. Each of the unanswered questions seems to be linked to the others: there is first the question of the Davis Cup captain, Mahesh Bhupathi's immediate future, Leander Paes' doubles partner and finally the fourth player for the Davis Cup squad.The one question which did get answered was that of a venue for the upcoming Davis Cup match against Lebanon in February. It was a big surprise in the form of Lucknow. Paes does not seem too happy about it.For the squad, the top three select themselves: Paes, Prahlad Srinath and Syed Fazaluddin.Many names have cropped up for the fourth, Sandeep Kirtane, Sunil Kumar, Mustafa Ghouse, Vishal Uppal and Vijay Kannan being among them.Sandeep Kirtane, with his past experience in playing for India and on grass could be a prime candidate, but age 26 and his suspect fitness may come in the way. He suffered from a back spasm just prior to the Lucknow Challenger this month, and retired during his firt roundmatch. Kirtane, many feel, is a very good team player, but he is injury-prone and has put on lot of weight. He had knee surgery in 1997, a back problem last year and this year it was a golfer's elbow in the beginning, and now his back spasms have returned.According to Shyam Minotra, head of the present selection committee he added that a new one will be formed at the All India Tennis Association AGM on December 26 "At this moment, I cannot see a youngster who can fit into the role of fourth player."Added Minotra, "As things stand in all probability it being grass, Leander and Fazal will play singles and team up for doubles, though the final decision will be the captain's."In Jaipur last week, Paes said he was "not sure who the fourth spot would be" when asked to name a few potential youngsters for the spot. In Lucknow, the previous week, he said, "Sunil should be given a chance. Though in what capacity I don't know, fourth, or fifth, as reserve. In India, we have to give youngsters an opportunity.I was thrown into the deep end at his age and managed to make it."But Minotra has a point. "Leander had the experience of lots of international events, junior Grand Slams, he had proved a lot. You just cannot put a junior into the Davis Cup unless they're good enough. You cannot blood a youngster just like that."The contendersShyam Minotra's comments on:SANDEEP KIRTANE: If Sandeep remains fit, and I were choosing, he would be my fourth player. If you get a person who is slightly older and experienced, he is a better choice than a youngster. Look at Wally Masur who was 28 when he played for Australia.VISHAL UPPAL: Vishal seems to be maturing as a player and is good on grass. He showed promise early on and then did not live up to it, but has improved a lot now and is playing well. He is a definite option right now.VIJAY KANNAN: His results haven't proved anything. He is playing well and not winning and has been given so many chances already. Somewhere hehas to prove himself.MUSTAFA GHOUSE: He is good and has potential. He is young and has a big game, is big-built and fit. Yet, he needs to mature. His results after the nationals haven't been encouraging.SUNIL KUMAR: He is a long-term prospect. We have been following him and he has tremendous potential, but I think, with Sunil, we will need a little more time. He is not quite ready for this.
