Dubai: The UAE's top player feels that a return to form of youngster Hamad Abbas Al Janahi will be crucial in the national squad's chances of maintaining its position in Group III of the Asia-Oceania Group Davis Cup to be held in Colombo next month.
"He [Hamad] has been out of touch and it is very important that he returns to his form prior to his departure to the US [for higher studies]," Omar Behroozian told Gulf News before the team's departure to Nice, France for a three-week training camp there under national coach Jorge Munoz, earlier this week.
After languishing in Group IV, the UAE made a return to Group III last season with Behroozian returning from a lengthy knee injury.
Besides Al Janahi, who was one of the stars with a crucial singles win last year — Mahmoud Nader and junior Rashid Bushaqar Al Falasi were the other members on the squad.
However, this time only two of these four — Behroozian and Al Janahi have made the trip to France for the camp under their Spanish coach.
"Keeping in mind that Mahmoud Nader [Al Beloushi] is not with us due to work commitments, it is important for the team to see Hamad play at his best," Behroozian insisted.
Nice was short-listed by the board of directors of Tennis Emirates keeping in mind that the players need to get adjusted to playing on clay.
Adept on surface
But with Al Beloushi not making the trip, the UAE squad will have to rely on Al Janahi as he would be more adept on the surface than his senior colleague, who will have to make do with training in Abu Dhabi.
"Mahmoud will join us once we return to Dubai and then travel with us for the short acclimatisation camp in Colombo. But five days is not enough I think, so we have to look at Hamad getting back to his real form as soon as possible," Behroozian noted. The two players have already started their training in Nice with Al Janahi showing signs of recovery.
"It's important that he gets back to being what he was before and at the moment I doubt he is there. But with three solid weeks before him he has the time to balance between fitness and tennis on clay. I feel confident he can get back to his old form," Behroozian confided.
Besides the training, both UAE players have been entered in two official tournaments in Nice in an attempt to get some valuable match practice.
"These tournaments will do both of us good besides giving us the confidence and a marker to see where we are headed," Behroozian added.
