Edberg, Wilander Lead Sweden Against India in Davis Cup Play

Stefan Edberg, Mats Wilander, Anders Jarryd and Joakim Nystrom, four of the top 16 players in the world, will lead the heavily favored Swedish team that will battle India this month in the Davis Cup finals.

Sweden will send one of the strongest Davis Cup teams in decades to the finals, scheduled for Dec. 18-20 in Goteborg, Sweden. Edberg is ranked No. 2 in the world, Wilander No. 3, Nystrom No. 16 and top-ranked doubles specialist Jarryd No. 15 in singles.

“I believe Wilander and Edberg will play the singles and Edberg-Jarryd the doubles, but I won’t nominate the team until after the practice sessions,” Swede Coach Hans Olsson said.

Olsson has warned his players against underestimating the Indians, who scored an upset road victory over reigning champion Australia to reach the final.

Sweden, playing its fifth straight final, has 11 players ranked higher than the best Indian, world No. 56 Ramesh Krishnan. Wilander lost Monday to Ivan Lendl in the Masters final in New York, while Edberg reached the Masters semifinal and is top-seeded with Jarryd in the Masters doubles in London.

Sweden will also use five practice players ranked higher than Krishnan to help the team. And it has built an indoor clay court to favor its players.

“The players I have chosen are outstanding when it comes to Davis Cup experience,” Olsson said. “Everything looks set for a Swedish victory. We have a better team, we play at home on clay court, but one must remember that India beat Australia away. We have failed twice in doing that.”

The popular schoolteacher has guided Sweden to five straight finals, losing to Australia away in 1983 and 1986, but winning over the United States in 1984 and beating West Germany in 1985.