Former India Davis Cup captain Jaideep Mukherjea has slammed suggestions from the All India Tennis Association (AITA) that Mahesh Bhupathi is behind the ongoing revolt in Indian tennis. “I’ve known Mahesh personally, and I can assure you that he will never do such a thing,” Mukherjea told MiD DAY yesterday.

On December 17, eight tennis players — Somdev Devvarman, Rohan Bopanna, Yuki Bhambri, Vishnu Vardhan, Sanam Singh, Divij Sharan, Saketh Myneni and Bhupathi wrote to the AITA asking for, among other things, (i) a change in the way Davis Cup prize money is distributed, (ii) a change in support staff, (iii) a change in venues for home ties.