Davis Cup non playing captain Martin Dzuwa rested Zimbabwe’s top two singles players Takanyi Garanganga and Mark Fyn in favour of Tinotenda Chanakira and Benjamin Locke who won their singles.
Chanakira then combined with Fyn in the doubles and also won to give Zimbabwe the perfect start they needed. Zimbabwe are in Group A which also has Madagascar, Nigeria, and Kenya. Zimbabwe need to finish in the top two in their group to qualify for the semi finals.
Garanganga and Fyn are expected to lead the singles in the more demanding matches against the Likes of Kenya and Nigeria who pose the strongest threat to Zimbabwe’s dream of getting out of this low ranking group.
Two teams from the 10 countries that are participating in the competition will gain promotion into the Euro-Africa Zone Group 11 next year. Zimbabwe narrowly missed out of promotion last when they lost out to hosts Egypt in the play offs.
Although Egypt are not at the qualifiers they are playing host to the competition due to their up to standard facilities.
Zimbabwe are hoping to gain promotion into the Euro-Africa Zone Group 11 and hopefully Group 1 before campaigning for a place in the World Group in which they were last in in 1999 when they were relegated after losing 3-2 to the USA at home.
Prior to that, Zimbabwe had in 1998, reached the quarter finals of the World Group in which on their way they beat such top tennis playing nations like Great Britain, Ukraine, Croatia, and Australia before losing out to Italy.
Post published in: Sport
Thanks for such a knowledgeable post.
Thanks for such a knowledgeable post.