Zim in Davis Cup play-offs

After beating Kenya on Wednesday by the same score line, the team continued with their good run yesterday with Mark Fynn beating Albert Arthur 6-3, 6-3 in the first round.

Takanyi Garanganga put up a good show in his first singles match in this tournament when he outclassed Emmanuel Mensah in straight sets 6-0, 6-2.
Garanganga and Fynn then teamed up to dismiss the pair of Robert Kpodo and Mensah 6-2, 6-2 in the doubles to seal their victory as they continue with their bid to gain promotion into the Europe/Africa Zone Group II next year.

With their wins over Kenya and Ghana, Zimbabwe are now set to take the winners of pool D on Saturday in the play-offs while winners of pool A play the top team in pool C.

The two winning teams in the play-offs will be promoted into the Europe/Africa Zone Group II for next year.
Team captain, Martin Dzuwa, who partnered Garanganga for the doubles on Wednesday against Kenya while Tinotenda Chanakira and Fynn took a rest after their singles matches, said he was happy with the performance so far.

“It’s been very outstanding so far, the players, Mark raised his game today (yesterday) so I am happy with the performance. I hope he (Mark) maintains that on Saturday.

“I just wanted to rest the other players and see how Takanyi plays the doubles with another player,” said Dzuwa.
Zimbabwe are seeded second in this tournament and Dzuwa noted that the competition has been tough and they still have a long way to go as they are likely to face Egypt on Saturday.

“The competition is tough, everyone wants to make a difference,” said Dzuwa.
Egypt beat Botswana 3-0 yesterday while Nigeria beat Zambia 3-0.

Both teams have won the two matches they have played and will square off today in a match that will decide the group winners who will play Zimbabwe.

In pool A Algeria, who lost their match against Morocco on Wednesday, beat Cameroon 2-1 and the winners in this pool will be decided in today’s tie between Morocco and Cameroon.

It’s the same story in pool C with today’s encounter between Madagascar and Namibia set to decide the top team.
Both teams have won their matches against Rwanda.