Tennis legend Ramesh Krishnan is impressed with the consistency shown by India's Davis Cup team in the last few years but wants the system to throw up more players, who can take the side to the next level.
Led by Somdev Devvarman and Yuki Bhambri, India are regularly in contention for a berth in the elite 16-nation World Group. They challenged top sides, Serbia (September, 2014) and Czech Republic (September 2015) at home but could not cross the hurdle.
"It's a good effort to get to the play-offs itself because the competition in the Asian zone is tough. We are able to somehow scramble through to play-offs. I think the trick is going to be, get past that hurdle," Krishnan, who was himself India's Davis Cup hero in his heydays, told PTI.
It was Krishnan, who had won the deciding fifth rubber against Australia's Wally Masur to take India into Davis Cup final in 1987. And that was the last time, the team reached Davis Cup finals.
Talking about the way forward, he said, "You need quality singles players. There are four singles points in Davis Cup. There is no secret to it. They (current players) are working hard and they will keep improving but system has to keep throwing players up."
Krishnan, who beat the then world number one Mats Vilander in the Australian Open first round in 1989, said the improved rankings of Yuki and Saketh Myneni was a good sign but there is still a long way to go.
Yuki has ensured himself at least a few weeks in top-100 and Saketh and Somdev are in the bracket of 160-180.
"That's good news. But we can't rest on this. Work has to keep continuing, you have to keep moving. There is no time to rest," Krishnan, who made three singles Grand Slam quarterfinals (US Open 1981, 1987 and Wimbledon 1986), said.
He himself had touched a career-high singles rank of 23.
Asked if he would like to have a second innings as Davis Cup captain, Krishnan did not seem too keen.
"We have a good Davis cup team and good captain. Everything is set.
