Indian tennis is facing an unprecedented crisis. A 0-4 loss to a modest Sweden in Davis Cup last week has exposed deep divisions within the sport. While the All India Tennis Association (AITA) accused that some players “refused to play for the country”, the players have responded with their own accusations against the federation.

Sumit Nagal, one of the players who was accused by the AITA of neglecting national duty, said that he was injured before the Sweden tie and did not want to hamper the team’s chances. In a statement, Nagal said, “Representing my country is a privilege and an honour I hold in the highest regard… However, after consulting my medical team it became clear that competing while carrying an injury could not only jeopardise my health but also adversely impact the team’s chances…”

Mahesh Bhupathi, one of India’s most successful doubles players, was displeased by the association’s attempt to tarnish Nagal’s reputation.

“This is classic AITA”, said Bhupathi. “Sumit Nagal had a medical issue. He did not play a tournament in China as well. And to see him being accused of not wanting to play for India is plain unfair. And this has been going on for years. Unless things change, there is only one loser and that’s Indian tennis.”

Somdev Devvarman, one of India’s best singles players ever, expressed his disappointment, explaining that playing in the Davis Cup is highly stressful for Indian players. “If you ask players from other countries, they'll tell you they all look forward to the Davis Cup. It’s the best week of the year—you spend time with teammates, play for your country, and have fun,” Devvarman said. “In India, it’s the exact opposite. The Davis Cup is the most stressful week because of all the politics. Afterwar ..

From team selection to blame game, the Sweden tie has become a classic example of mismanagement. “Players ranked that low shouldn’t have been fielded. Why don’t we have a plan? The players don’t even know who will play and when?” concluded Somdev.

Mahesh was equally critical in his assessment. “If you were to take the example of the top three or four sports in the country – cricket, hockey, badminton and shooting – each of them has former players making key decisions and guiding the spor ..