Bopanna withdraws from Davis Cup squad due to knee injury

India's highest-ranked men's doubles tennis player Rohan Bopanna has pulled out from the Davis Cup squad that will face Spain from September 16-18 citing knee injury, it was announced on Saturday.

"Bopanna informed the Chairman Selection Committee that due to a knee injury which he suffered during US Open, he has been advised two weeks rest from competition," All India Tennis Association (AITA) said in a statement.

"Hence he has requested for withdrawal from the Davis Cup tie against Spain which is going to be held in Delhi from 16-18 September 2016. His request was considered and accepted by the Committee."

AITA's selectors have decided to include Sumit Nagal in the four playing member team for the Davis Cup tie against Spain to be held at the R.K. Khanna Tennis Stadium here. Nagal, 19, won last year's Wimbledon junior doubles championship.

Saketh Myneni and Ramkumar Ramanathan are expected to play the singles matches while veteran Leander Paes-Nagal will do the doubles duty.

Spain will bring its strongest possible tennis squad including 14-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal and World No.13 David Ferrer for the contest.

World No.5 Nadal will headline a strong squad also including doubles specialists Feliciano Lopez and Marc Lopez.

It will be the fourth meeting between the two countries and the first since 1965 with Spain leading 2-1.

--IANS

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