After an absence of 11 mainly heartbreaking, frustrating years, South Africa are invitingly positioned to reclaim a position in the Davis Cup's elite World Group following Tuesday's playoff draw in London.
It was - taking everything into account - the best possible draw South Africa might have achieved when the composition of the 16 teams produced a meeting against India.
Not only were India the worst-ranked of the eight seeded countries who went into the draw but, more importantly, the clash for the September 18-20 playoff will be staged in South Africa - almost certainly at a favourable high altitude venue in the Gauteng province.
Continues Below ↓
And, unsurprisingly, South African Davis Cup captain John-Laffnie de Jager was over the moon when he heard the news - tempering his delight with the observation that "India have one of the best doubles combinations in world tennis in Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi and should not be taken for granted."
This crucial match-up for both South Africa and India will recall the aborted Davis Cup final in 1974 when India refused to honour their commitment as an act of protest against apartheid and South Africa ironically became Davis Cup title holders for the first and only time.
And De Jager quickly pointed out that playing India at home was "a lot better than having to travel to Europe to play powerhouses France or Switzerland and being confronted by the likes of Roger Federer or Jo-Wilfried Tsonga - something that could quite easily have emerged from the draw." - Sapa
-
This article was originally published on page 31 of The Star on May 13, 2009
|
StumbleUpon
Reddit
Digg
Delicious
Newsvine
Facebook
muti
Twitter
