'Special to play Davis Cup in Pakistan', says India's top player

India's Prajnesh Gunneswaran admits that being his country's top tennis star places him under an obligation to play a Davis Cup tie against bitter rivals Pakistan.

India have been drawn to face their neighbours in Islamabad in September with a prize of being able to contest the World Group qualifiers at stake.

It will be the first time India have played a Davis Cup tie in Pakistan in 55 years.

"I think I will play although it is still to be discussed as we have the option to go now," said the 29-year-old at Wimbledon on Monday.

"If I want to stay in the top 100 then those two weeks make an impact but playing for my country is very special and I want to do everything to do that.

"If I had been number four or five in India I would be jumping at the chance.

"Nothing should change being number one."

The long-running political tension between the nuclear-armed India and Pakistan spiked in February over Kashmir, which both countries have fought two wars over since the territory was divided in 1947.

A deadly suicide attack -- claimed by a militant group based in Pakistan -- in Indian-administered Kashmir killed 40 Indian troops.

In response, India staged its first air attack on Pakistani territory in decades, with Pakistan responding a day later

/rjm

? 2019 AFP