Indian tennis is grappling with a severe crisis, laid bare by a crushing 0-4 defeat to Sweden in the recent Davis Cup. This loss has not just highlighted the on-court struggles but also exposed significant internal rifts within the sport. The All India Tennis Association (AITA) has accused certain players of “refusing to play for the country,” while the players have fired back with allegations against the federation.

Sumit Nagal, one of the players targeted by the AITA, clarified that he was injured before the Sweden match and didn’t want to compromise the team’s performance. “Representing my country is a privilege and an honor I hold in the highest regard,” Nagal explained. “However, after consulting my medical team, it became clear that competing while injured could jeopardize both my health and the team’s chances.”

Mahesh Bhupathi, one of India’s most celebrated doubles players, expressed his dismay at the AITA’s attempt to smear Nagal’s reputation. “This is classic AITA behavior,” said Bhupathi. “Sumit had a legitimate medical issue and even skipped a tournament in China. Accusing him of not wanting to play for India is unfair. This kind of mismanagement has plagued Indian tennis for years. Unless things change, Indian tennis will continue to suffer.”

Somdev Devvarman, one of India’s best singles players, echoed this sentiment, lamenting that the Davis Cup is a source of immense stress for Indian players. “Players from other countries look forward to the Davis Cup; it’s their best week of the year,” Devvarman stated. “In India, it’s the opposite. The Davis Cup is the most stressful week due to all the politics. It takes weeks to recover from the mental strain.”

This controversy isn’t new; it’s a recurring theme before every Davis Cup tie. For over 25 years, players have consistently had issues with the AITA. “The AITA has always targeted someone—whether it was Sania Mirza, Mahesh Bhupathi, Leander Paes, myself, and now Sumit. Instead of this antagonism, there should be harmony between the federation and players for the sport to thrive,” argued Devvarman.

Sources reveal that Nagal was on the brink of retiring from Davis Cup participation after this debacle, frustrated by the federation’s antics. However, he reconsidered after discussions with former players.

Imran Mirza, Sania Mirza’s father and coach, expressed his disillusionment: “It’s disheartening to see our top-100 singles player being thrown under the bus by so-called experts to deflect criticism!”

The Sweden tie has turned into a glaring example of mismanagement, from team selection to blame-shifting. “Fielding low-ranked players without a clear plan is baffling,” concluded Somdev. “The players don’t even know who will play and when.”

Bhupathi was equally scathing in his critique: “Look at cricket, hockey, badminton, and shooting in India—each sport is guided by former players making key decisions, leading to consistent success. The AITA should leverage Rohan Bopanna and Sania Mirza, who run successful academies with excellent facilities. Devvarman is ideal to lead a high-performance program.”

He further emphasized: “China transformed their tennis landscape in 15 years with a clear vision. They now have two men and five women in the top 100 and an Olympic gold medallist. India has immense talent; we need a structured approach to harness it.”

The AITA and Indian tennis face a pivotal moment with upcoming elections. This is an opportunity to cleanse the system by appointing capable individuals to key positions, fostering synergy between players and the federation, and involving former players in driving positive change. The mindset must shift urgently—time is running out for Indian tennis.