TENNIS in DEPTH.

A quick age count of the players involved in next week’s Davis Cup World Group first round reveals some interesting facts.

For instance, Argentina has the youngest team, possessing a combined age of just 94, and is also the most inexperienced. Despite all four players being ranked inside the world’s Top 100, they have only contested six rubbers in total, with Horacio Zeballos and Eduardo Schwank yet to make their debuts.

Zeballos and Schwank are not the only potential debutantes. If selected, USA’s John Isner, France’s Julien Benneteau, Germany’s Simon Greul, Croatia’s Antonio Veic, Spain’s Marcel Granollers and Chile’s Jorge Aguilar will also be playing for the first time.

Marin Cilic, the world No. 9 from Croatia, is the youngest player. The 21-year-old, who has a September birthday, will more than likely line up alongside Ivo Karlovic. The two Croats stand at 6’ 6” and 6’ 10” respectively, making them the tallest singles combination.

India, on the other hand, has the oldest team. Leander Paes, 36, and Mahesh Bhupathi, 35, contribute to a combined age of 126. With greater age, however, comes greater experience. Paes and Bhupathi, together with Somdev Devvarman and Rohan Bopanna, have played 196 rubbers, which is 46 more than any other nation.

On the subject of long serving players, Ecuador’s Nicolas Lapentti, who postponed his retirement plans to feature against Croatia, is one to look out for. He is currently in the Davis Cup history books for winning the most number of five-set singles rubbers, 13, and is also on the verge of breaking a number of his nation’s records, including total wins and ties played.

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