Lloyd Harris up first for SA Davis Cup team against Israel

JOHANNESBURG – South Africa’s Lloyd Harris’s name was drawn first out the hat at the official draw of the Davis Cup, Euro/Africa Group 1 tie between South Africa and Israel held at the Irene Country Club in Pretoria on Thursday.

This means the 21-year-old Capetonian will go out first for his country at 4pm after the opening ceremony on Friday against Israeli number two, Edan Lesham. This will be followed the Nik Scholtz (South Africa) vs Dudi Sela (Israel) rubber.

On Saturday at 11am, the doubles rubber will start play with Raven Klaasen and Ruan Roelofse named as the host team. Klaasen and Roelofse will play Jonathan Erlich and Daniel Cukierman. The doubles will be followed by the two reverse singles; Harris vs Sela and Scholtz vs Lesham.

In the new Davis Cup format being trialled this weekend, the tie will be played over two days (Friday and Saturday) instead of the usual three days and each of the five rubbers will be best of three instead of five sets. Captains may make player changes to any rubber up until an hour before the rubber commences using any player from the five nominated at the draw on Thursday.

SA team captain Marcos Ondruska said that the team that started best would have the best advantage. “With the rubbers being the best of three sets, it’s important for us to make a good, quick start. We need to get onto the scoreboard and keep ahead of our opponents. I am happy with the draw, Lloyd is in good shape and playing well and is confident to take on the challenge.”

Harris said that he was ready for Friday: “I don’t normally go out first but I was ready for whatever the draw dictated. I have been practising and feeling the ball well under the lights so was ready to play first or second.”

Scholtz said that he respected his opponent Dudi Sela and saw him as a real challenge: “Dudi is a great player with a good pedigree but after my big five set win here at Irene a few ties back, I feel confident that I can perform well for myself, my team and country.” Scholtz said that the tie was evenly poised. “This is going to be a good weekend of tennis. Both sides are evenly matched so it can go any way but I am confident that the KIA SA team with home advantage and the support of the locals can pull off the win.”