Kei Nishikori's Japan host India in the Davis Cup World Group playoffs this weekend.
On paper it looks set to be one of the most tightly contested World Group playoff ties but history lies heavily in India's favour this weekend with their comprehensive 18-3 head-to-head record against the Japanese. They last met in the Asia - Oceania semi-finals in 2008 with India winning a desperately close match 3-2, both opening day singles rubbers going to five sets.
Kei Nishikori is a veteran of that tie and the Japanese number one will be keen to avenge his shock five set loss to Rohan Bopanna when they meet on Friday afternoon. Nishikori's form will be vital to Japan's hopes and the world number 55 will almost certainly have to win both his singles rubbers given the strength of the legendary Indian doubles pairing Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes. He's shown reasonable form this summer but will be hoping to bounce back from a first round loss at the US Open.
India are spearheaded by the rapidly improving Somdev Devvarman. The world number 65 is starting to put India's men back on the singles map but he's had a tough summer.
It's a tough one to call as Japan's second singles players look better on paper but Bopanna seems to save his best for the Davis Cup and has pulled off some shock upsets in the past.
Ultimately I think having Bhupathi and Paes will give India the edge and I see them pulling off another tight 3-2 win.
