Dhakshineswar’s Powerhouse Serve Set to Propel India in 2025 Davis Cup Opener Against Switzerland

Dhakshineswar Suresh is set to lead the Indian team’s efforts in the Davis Cup World Group-1 tie against Jerome Kym in Biel, Switzerland, this Friday. Dhakshineswar, aged 25, has been in the spotlight recently, especially after qualifying for the ATP event in Winston-Salem and defeating the former world No.19, Alejandro Tabilo from Chile. This strong form led captain Rohit Rajpal to elevate him from the reserve squad.

Captain Rajpal expressed his satisfaction with the decision, stating, “I’m glad Dhakshineswar is playing first. He’s showing good form, and we’re hoping for a strong start. The first day is always crucial in the Davis Cup.”

The team made adjustments, bringing in Dhakshineswar in place of Karan Singh and replacing the injured US Open doubles semifinalist Yuki Bhambri with Rithvik Bollipalli. Ranked 71, Bollipalli is currently the third-best Indian doubles player and will partner with 75th-ranked Sriram Balaji.

Both Jerome Kym and Marc-Andrea Huesler surpass their respective rankings of 155 and 222 in performance. Huesler notably reached a career-high ranking of 47 in 2023 after making it to the fourth round of the US Open.

India is also counting on the return of its No.1 player, Sumit Nagal, ranked 290. Having reached a career-best ranking of 68 last year, Sumit aims to make significant contributions after missing the last two ties.

Currently ranked 626 due to limited tournament participation, Dhakshineswar nonetheless poses a threat with his strong serve and capability on indoor courts. Historically, India holds a 2-1 win-loss record against Switzerland, with their last encounter in 1993 resulting in a victory for India.

The dynamics of tennis have evolved significantly, making the India-Switzerland matchup on Swiss soil an intriguing contest to watch.

The Draw: India vs Switzerland

• September 12: Jerome Kym vs Dhakshineswar Suresh (5:30 p.m. IST), followed by Marc-Andrea Huesler vs Sumit Nagal.

• September 13: Jakub Paul & Dominic Stricker vs Sriram Balaji & Rithvik Bollipalli (4:30 p.m. IST), followed by Jerome Kym vs Sumit Nagal, and Marc-Andrea Huesler vs Dhakshineswar Suresh.

Published on Sep 11, 2025.