Mark Nielsen smiled when he arrived in Wellington yesterday for this week's Davis Cup tie against India and was ferried from the airport by an Indian taxi driver.
"I didn't invite him to the tennis but I am sure they [India] will have plenty of support," Nielsen said, tongue-in-cheek.
Nielsen and his
team-mates hope a noisy, capacity Wellington crowd at the Renouf Centre will provide the impetus for a win that would earn New Zealand a place in the promotion-relegation round against a first-round loser from the star-studded world group.
The world group includes Australia, Brazil, Germany, Britain, Morocco, Slovak Republic, Switzerland and the Netherlands.
Nielsen described New Zealand as underdogs against India, who during much of the last decade have been in tennis' top echelon.
He has had a good build-up to the tie, playing three Futures events, reaching two finals and quarter-final, and the quarter-final at a Challenger tournament in Hamilton.
"The start of the year has been good for me," Nielsen said.
"I've played a lot of matches and that helps when you are under pressure in a Davis Cup tie.
"It will be a tough tie and India will be definite favourites in the doubles because their pairing [Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi] have won grand slam titles.
"But it is a one-off match and if we play well on the day there is no reason why we cannot upset them."
Nielsen, Alistair Hunt and James Shortall had a light hit out at the Renouf Centre after arriving from Auckland.
Nielsen hopes the tie will be played in calm conditions.
- NZPA
