Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE booked their place in the Davis Cup Africa Group IV promotion play-offs with a 2-1 win over Angola at the Nairobi Club in Kenya yesterday.
The victory saw Zimbabwe top Pool B with three wins from three, having earlier beaten Mozambique 3-0 and DR Congo 2-1.
Angola advanced as Pool B runners-up.
Ronan Mtisi gave Zimbabwe the perfect start, beating Emerson Pedro 6-4, 6-3 in the opening singles.
Courtney Lock lost 6-2, 6-2 to Daniel Domingos in the second singles, forcing a decider in the doubles. Mtisi and Lock then combined to clinch the tie, edging Domingos and Pedro 6-3, 7-6(3) in a tight doubles match.
Zimbabwe face Pool A runners-up Ghana today in the promotion play-offs.
A win secures one of two spots in Africa Group III next year.
The victory naturally left captain Gwinyai Tongoona a happy man and he saluted his players.
“The team performed well today.
“Ronan Mtisi stepped up in both singles and doubles. Good leadership again from Courtney, we are looking forward to tomorrow’s important play-off,’’ Tongoona said.
“Courtney had a tough singles, the boy he played against was very sharp today. Ronan played well in both singles and doubles. Courtney stepped up and led us through that doubles match. The team performed well. Ronan stepped up in both singles and doubles. Good leadership again from Courtney,” added Tongoona.
“Tomorrow will probably be tougher than today. We have to win to be promoted”.
Angola will play Pool A winners Algeria in the other play-off. Kenya meet Mozambique and DR Congo face Botswana in the relegation play-offs.
The losing teams drop to Africa Group V next year. Although he is expecting a tough tie, Tongoona is confident that his players would rise up to the challenge before them.
“Tomorrow, we prepare again like we have done all week . . . Tomorrow will probably be tougher than today. We have to win to be promoted,” said Tongoona.
The teams finishing third and fourth in each of the two pools will compete in the relegation play-offs. Kenya will play Mozambique, while the Democratic Republic of Congo face Botswana in the relegation play-offs.
The losing teams will be demoted to next year’s Africa Group V. Eight countries are taking part in the tournament that got underway in the Kenyan capital on Wednesday and ends today with the play-offs.
It has been a long and arduous road for Zimbabwe to try and bounce back to the prestigious World stage.
