adminNgqwele Dube Sports Correspondent
TENNIS Zimbabwe president Regis Bhunu is optimistic the country will retain its place in the Davis Cup Euro Africa Zone Group II by overcoming Moldova in the relegation play-off matches scheduled for this weekend. Bhunu said they were not missing any detail in their preparations for the do-or-die tie against the East European country. “Being relegated from Group II won’t put us in good stead as it will take us a while to get back into the group. We are confident we can overcome the visitors and we are a putting in a lot in terms of preparations.
“The players have been featuring in competitive games and this game time is crucial ahead of the matches,” said Bhunu.
Bhunu expressed confidence Zimbabwe would not be demoted from the group saying they were ready to put up a fight and that from the profiles they received about Moldova players chances were high of a positive result.
“We received their list of players and I think we are in with a big chance of overcoming them (Moldova). They only have one ranked player who is a rung below our players’ rankings. As I speak right now all the players besides Takanyi (Garanganga) are training at Harare Sports Club and are fine-tuning themselves while working on an effective strategy for the doubles team.
“Takanyi is in Italy and will be joining the team next week although I do not have the exact date at the moment,” said Bhunu on Friday morning.
Zimbabwe’s top seed Garanganga reportedly had to withdraw from the Italy F17 Futures due to a wrist injury but Bhunu said the player was on the mend and would be available for the Davis Cup game.
Members of the team, who are in training, include Benjamin Lock, Courtney Lock and Mark Fynn and Martin Dzuwa the non-playing team captain.
The Davis Cup team was humiliated at home by Bosnia-Herzegovina in March when they lost 4-1. Bhunu revealed Wayne Black would assume an advisory role in the team after making an unsuccessful comeback in March.
Black failed to replicate his form that saw him win two men’s doubles Grand Slam titles (2001 US Open and 2005 Australian Open) with compatriot Kevin Ullyet and two Grand Slam mixed doubles titles (2002 French Open and 2004 Wimbledon) with sister Cara, losing in the doubles game in which he had partnered with Fynn.
Moldova’s team is made up of Dmitrii Baskov who is number 2 030 in the singles ranking and unranked players, Andrei Soltoianu, Maxim Bulat and Egor Matvievici.
Zimbabwe’s players are better ranked with Garanganga at 391 in singles, Benjamin ranked at 750 while Fynn 1 133 and Courtney 1 907 a scenario that gives Zimbabwe hope for a better performance.
Online Reporter