Top players named for Davis Cup tie against Serbia

India Saturday retained its top four players, including Somdev Devvarman, for the Davis Cup World Group first round tie against defending champions Serbia from March 4-6.

New Delhi: India today retained its top four players, including Somdev Devvarman, for the Davis Cup World Group first round tie against defending champions Serbia from March 4-6.

The tie will be held at Spens Sports Center at the Serbian city of Novi Sad. Apart from Somdev, Rohan Bopanna and veterans Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi are the other members of the squad. Karan Rastogi and Vishnu Vardhan have been named by the All India Tennis Association (AITA) as the reserve players. India secured its place in the elite group for the second straight year after scoring a sensational come-from-behind 3-2 win over Brazil in the play-offs in Chennai. India trailed 0-2 after the opening day`s play but Paes and Bhupathi brought them back by winning the doubles rubber and then Somdev and Bopanna won their reverse singles to seal India`s entry into the World Group. Serbia had defeated France 3-2 in the final at Belgrade Arena to be crowned champions for the first time. PTI