Anderson ‘not honest’ over Davis Cup

REUTERS

Kevin Anderson.

Johannesburg – South African Davis Cup captain John-Laffnie de Jager on Wednesday blasted Kevin Anderson for not making himself available for next week’s all-important BNP Paribas World Group play-off tie with Canada in Montreal.

Big-serving “Cannonball Kev”, SA’s top-ranked player, has opted instead to take part in the razzmatazz World Team Tennis Finals – the T20 of tennis – at the same time as the cup tie.

“I’m disappointed because Kevin hasn’t been honest with me. He initially spoke of a knee injury preventing him playing in the tie.

“Now he’s playing World Team Tennis. He’s a world-class player, but clearly, playing Davis Cup for his country is not one of his priorities.”

Anderson has been silent regarding his non-participation in Montreal, but taking part in the World Team Tennis Finals can be very lucrative. And as the giant South African travels with a full-time trainer, coach and hitting partner, his expenses are high, so perhaps his motivation is self-preservation.

South Africa have for the last four years been trying to get back into the elite 16-nation World Group in the Davis Cup, but – in successive play-offs (promotion-relegation matches) in 2009, 2010 and 2011 – they have lost to India, Germany and Croatia, respectively.

Now they face a strong Canada line-up, on Canadian soil (South Africa, who could not afford to host the tie in this country, ceded it to Canada), as clear underdogs especially with no Anderson to spearhead the challenge.

Frank Dancevic, Daniel Nestor, Vasek Pospisil and Milos Raonic make up the Canadian team. Martin Laurendeau, the non-playing captain, said this was the “best team they’ve had for years”.

Amazingly, Nestor, despite turning 40 on Tuesday this week, is still the world’s top-ranked doubles player who this year, partnered by Max Mirnyi, was crowned champion at Roland-Garros for the third consecutive year.

Raonic, No16 in the world, is the highest-ranked Canadian male singles player of all time. He has just reached the fourth round of the US Open where he fell to Olympic gold medallist Andy Murray, and has won two ATP World Tour titles this season.

SA’s team is Izak van der Merwe, Rik de Voest, Raven Klaasen and debutant Nikala Scholtz. Their overall rankings are far below that of Canada.

Asked how he felt South Africa would fare, De Jager replied: “We’re not looking at the rankings. Davis Cup ties are not won on paper. Our attitude is that we can win, and we’ll be giving it 100 percent.

“Nikala may be a newcomer but he’s got a big game and has been playing well at college in America. Also, it’s a hard court venue and that will suit us.”

The tie, which will be broadcast live on SuperSport, takes place next Friday (singles), Saturday (doubles) and Sunday (singles). – The Star