Dom Inglot dumped but undaunted and ready for new challenge

Dom Inglot is looking forward to the challenge of partnering Rajeev Ram

British Davis Cup star Dom Inglot's bright start to 2015 has been halted - by injury and an unexpected email which ended a promising doubles partnership.

As quarter-finalists at the Australian Open, and finalists at two other early-season events, Inglot and Florin Mergea are currently seventh in the race to qualify for November's World Tour Finals.

But they will not be competing in London as a team because shortly after arriving home from the Miami Open, Inglot was informed by the Romanian that he intends to play with India's Rohan Bopanna in future.

"It came as a bit of a shock to me - I thought we had been doing pretty well," Inglot told BBC Sport.

"But this is a sport where everybody has to look after their own careers and if he believes that is the way forward for him, I can't really stop him, can I?

"It's a little bit sad, it's a little bit disappointing and I'm a bit frustrated by the decision because I thought we were doing really well this year and I had my sights set on London at the end of the year, and I really believe we could have done that. But c'est la vie - that's the way it is.

"If someone else becomes available like Rohan did, then suddenly you can have an eye that starts looking at other potential partners. In all relationships, I guess, it can be a little like that."

Sometimes people move on very quickly. And Inglot did not have to wait long for a call from Rajeev Ram, a 31-year-old American who has won a singles title on the ATP Tour, but now wants to make the transition to doubles full time.

"I know him pretty well - so it should be easier to communicate with him, chat with him and have fun playing doubles with him," Inglot continued.

"We both serve very well, are good at the net and so if you are holding serve and taking care of that side, then you have a lot more licence to have fun on the return game. It puts a lot of pressure on the opponents when they don't think they can break you."

Inglot will team up with American Ram at the French Open

Inglot is hoping to blood the new partnership at some point May, but is wary of returning too quickly from a knee injury.

The knee in question has required surgery in the past, but the 29-year-old is optimistic about being in good enough shape by the time the French Open begins on 24 May.

It will then be time to attack the grass court season, which this year culminates in Britain's Davis Cup quarter-final against France.

Inglot is looking forward to "a very fast surface" at the Queen's Club, and his fitness will be closely monitored by the GB captain Leon Smith.

Inglot's performance in the first-round tie with the United States, where he and Jamie Murray came from two sets down before losing the deciding set 9-7 to the world number 1 Bryan brothers, means he is an increasingly important member of the team.