Vishnu, Kiwi players arrive for Davis Cup tie

Vishnu Vardhan joined the Indian Davis Cup team in Chandigarh on Sunday and said the hosts are familiar with the playing style of the New Zealand squad that touched down for the Asia-Oceania tie starting September 14.

Vishnu joined Sanam Singh, Saketh Myneni and Sri Ram Balaji while Yuki Bhambri and Divij Sharan are expected to arrive later.

Yuki and Divij reached the doubles finals of the ATP Challengers in Shanghai where they lost to Sanchai and Sonchat Ratiwatana on Sunday.

"I was playing in Shanghai for a week and other team members were also there. This was good preparation for the Davis Cup tie. We also got to see the Kiwis playing and got a good hang of their game," Vishnu said.

He then hit the practice courts along with teammates and coach Nandan Bal and captain S P Misra.

Meanwhile, the New Zealand players also arrived and were accorded a traditional welcome.

Captain Marcel Vos and players -- Jose Rubin Statham, Michael Venus, Artem Sitak and Daniel King Turner were garlanded and a 'tilak' was applied on their foreheads by the hotel staff.

Vos said the absence of star Indian players will help his side.

"Some experienced good players are missing in the Indian squad and this will prove to be an advantage for us. All players in our team have had Davis Cup experience.

"We have been playing in Bangkok for two weeks and the best thing is that Indian weather conditions are similar. We have 5 days of practice time before the Davis Cup starts," Vos said.

The Kiwis also underwent a practice session at the CLTA stadium. The team's physiotherapist Murray Hing will be arriving on Monday.