Lock speaks on Davis Cup

Takudzwa Chitsiga Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE Davis Cup tennis team player Benjamin Lock believes taking part in the ongoing Old Mutual International Tennis Federation Zimbabwe F1 Futures tournament will help him in his preparations for next month’s Euro/Africa Zone Group II relegation play-off tie against Moldova in Harare.

The Europe/Africa Group II relegation play-off between Zimbabwe and Moldova will be held from July 17-19 at Harare Sports Club.

And Lock is currently featuring in the ITF F1 Futures tournament whose second round will resume at Harare Sports Club this morning.

Lock sees this as a good platform to prepare for next month’s big Davis Cup tie against Moldova.

A couple of weeks ago Lock captured the Mozambique F1 Futures singles title in Maputo before he reached the semi-finals of the second leg of the same tournament at Harare Sports Club last week.

And he is now heading into the latest round of the events, which starts at the same venue today, with a spring in his step.

Lock (22) said the Zimbabwe Davis Cup team were looking forward to next month’s tie against Moldova and hope to redeem themselves after they were beaten by Bosnia and Herzegovina in the previous round in Harare in March.

“I think it is a good experience to be part of the Futures tournaments as they give us ample time to prepare for the big stage,” said Lock.

“We need to focus and prepare well for us to beat Moldova, who are also a strong team, but I have faith in the guys who make up the (Zimbabwe Davis Cup) team.

“It is important that we have adequate preparations for this tie.

“We will try our best and everyone is raring to go.”

Bosnia and Herzegovina proved too strong for Zimbabwe when the two teams met in Harare in March with the Europeans winning the tie 4-1.

Mirza Basic and Damir Dzumhur laid the foundation for the victory by winning their opening singles matches.

The victory was sealed with a win in the doubles match which featured the legendary Wayne Black.

Lock lost 3-6, 6-7(1), 3-6 to Dzumhur in one of the opening singles matches before his next opponent Nerman Fatic retired injured in the dead rubber on the final day of the tie when Bosnia and Herzegovina had already taken an unassailable 4-0 lead.

Next month, Zimbabwe will be meeting Moldova for the first time in the Davis Cup.

Moldova first played in the Davis Cup in 1995 and the highest level they have reached is Europe/Africa Zone Group II (2001/02 and 2012).