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Amritraj to open against Cruciat

— FILE PHOTO

Somdev Dev Varman.

Bucharest: Prakash Amritraj takes on Adrian Cruciat in the opening rubber while in-form Somdev Dev Varman faces Romanian No. 1 Victor Hanescu in the Davis Cup World Group play-off tie starting at the 4800 seater Cluba Sportive Progresul red-clay courts here on Friday.

With Amritraj struggling for form, the young Dev Varman will have to shoulder the responsibility in the singles while Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi will have to live up to their reputation against Cruciat and Horia Tecau in the doubles.

If Dev Varman, who has shown exceptionally good form over the last three months, beats Hanescu, India could be in with a great chance; assuming Paes and Bhupathi wrap up the doubles, Dev Varman will have a shot at the lower-ranked player in the reverse singles.

India had defeated Japan in the Asia/Oceania Group semifinals to advance to the play-offs while Romania finds itself having to earn its World Group slot, having lost to France in the first round. This is the fourth meeting between India and Romania with the host leading the head-to-head 2-1, having won the last two encounters in 1969 and 1971. India’s only victory came in 1922.

For the Indians, who have shown a clear preference for grass, the clay courts for this may prove to be a stiff challenge; and Romanians, led by World No. 67 Hanescu, surely hold advantage.

The hosts have made two changes to their World Group side from last year, bringing in Cruciat (ranked 170) and Crivoi (158) in place of Andrei Pavel and Florin Mergea.

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