adminZimbabwe’s number one tennis player Takanyi Garanganga was last week mentioned among the Davis Cup’s 2014 outstanding athletes.
Making the top five list is the Swiss duo of Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka, Darian King from Barbados, Ricardas Berankis (Lithuania), Marin Cilic (Croatia) and Radu Albot (Moldova).
Garanganga’s name came up as one of the additional six athletes to receive honourable mentions.
And the mere mention of the 24-year-old on the Davis Cup articles that normally feature the crème de la crème of world tennis stars speak volumes of the strides Garanganga has made.
According to the article on their website, the Davis Cup said; “In the first instalment of our unofficial 2014 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas Awards, we look at the players who have made the biggest contribution to their nations in 2014. We will select a Top five but also have a few honourable mentions,” the statement read.
The United States based tennis ace inspired Zimbabwe to promotion from Africa Zone Group III, winning all three singles rubbers and the only doubles rubber he contested.
Speaking from his base in the United States, Garanganga said he felt excited over the honour he had unexpectedly received.
“It was obviously a little exciting for me. I didn’t think it was going to be published.
“These are little steps towards greater things in my personal career, the nation of Zimbabwe and more importantly Africa. It’s exciting to be part of a team that’s inspiring everything and everyone who hears what we are doing.
“The sad thing is I didn’t get a trophy or medal,” Garanganga said with a chuckle.
“At the end of 2014 sports awards (Annual National Sport Awards) I heard the Davis Cup team got the Team of the Year award so congratulations to Tennis Zimbabwe and everyone who was involved,” Garanganga added.
Coached by Martin Dzuwa, the team which also included US based Benjamin Lock and the Spain based duo of Mark Fynn and Tinotenda Chanakira, defeated Namibia 2-0 in the promotional play-offs last September, to secure a ticket to the 2015 Euro Africa Group II.
Currently ranked 382 in the world, Garanganga received special mention together with five other tennis players who inspired their respective nations during last year Davis Cup.
Also honoured was Qatar’s Jabor Mohammed Ali Mutawa, who won all five of his singles rubbers for his nation as it was promoted to Asia/Oceania Zone Group III.
Costa Rica’s pair of Alvaro Daniel Riveros and Julian Saborio teamed up to win all five of Costa Rica’s doubles rubbers in 2014, helping their nation clinch promotion to Americas Zone Group II.
From France was Gael Monfils, who won all four of his singles rubbers including a deciding fifth rubber in the quarter-final against Germany and a victory against Roger Federer to level the final on the opening day.
Undefeated Marton Fucsovics from Hungary won three singles rubbers and a doubles rubber as it was promoted to Europe/Africa Zone Group II.
Also Turkish Marsel lhan won all four of the rubbers he contested in 2014.
He claimed three singles victories and a doubles win as Turkey was promoted to Europe/Africa Zone Group II.
Garanganga remains in the US where he will compete in different tournaments for the first couple of weeks of the season leading up to the staging of the Davis Cup match against Bosnia/Hezergovina in March.
Zimbabwe’s best performance was reaching the Davis Cup World Group quarter-finals in 1998, when it lost to Italy after defeating Australia 3-2 away in the first round.
Tinaye Agere
Online Reporter