Zim two-nil up vs Turkey

Brighton Zhawi, Harare Bureau
“LET’S wrap it up guys, we are in a perfect position,” says Zimbabwe Davis Cup captain Gwinyai Tongoona as his side go into today’s final play leading 2-0 against their Europe/Africa Group II opponents, Turkey, at Harare Sports Club.

Zimbabwe need one victory from today’s doubles match and two reverse singles to clinch this first round tie.

Action starts at 10 am. The hosts find themselves in this comfortable position after being put in front by number one player Ben Lock who beat Davis Cup debutant Altug Celikbilek, seeded second for Turkey, 6-4 1-6 6-3 in 1hour 54 minutes.

Takanyi Garanganga capped off a superb day for Zimbabwe with a 6-4 7-5 straight sets victory over Turkey’s top player Cem Ilkel in 1 hour 34 minutes much to the delight of the loud home crowd.

“Any team going into Davis Cup up two-zero after the first two matches, that’s the perfect position,” said Tongoona.

“You just have to keep working and go for one more result . . . I guess we need one more, we hope to wrap it up after doubles, we just have to prepare and get ready for doubles. I think they know already, both of them have been playing Davis Cup for a while they know that things can change very easily so we basically have to make our game plan tonight . . . but these guys pretty much know what they are doing it’s just a couple of pointers here and there,” he said.

For Zimbabwe Lock and Garanganga will team up in the doubles starting at 10am before gearing up for the reverse singles a little later on. Garanganga believes “disciplined” tennis will bag the tie for Zimbabwe.

“Ben set the tempo for the whole tie. Playing disciplined tennis, first serves in, first returns in, first volleys in and then everything becomes dynamic . . . it’s really those things you want to tick,” said Garanganga.