Battle ground set for Davis Cup action in Irene
For the second time this year the Irene Country Club is a hive of activity to prepare in earnest for international tennis as South Africa and Slovenia take on each other this weekend in a Davis Cup tie.
Despite the Slovenian Davis Cup team having only jetted into South Africa on Monday, the visitors are upbeat and keen to take to court against KIA South Africa this coming weekend in the nation’s Capital.
KIA South Africa face Slovenia at the Irene Country Club from 7-9 April in the all-important Euro/Africa Group 2 second round tie. The winner will get a shot at playing for promotion into Group 1 in September.
Blaz Trupej, the Slovenian captain said that his team had arrived and wasted no time into getting onto court.
“Although we had a long and tiring flight to South Africa we had a good practice session on Monday. The venue is good. The court is playing slower than we anticipated, we like the balls and with the tie being played late afternoon early evening it will be cooler and better for my players” said Trupej.
In 2012, South Africa beat Slovenia 4-1 at the Arthur Ashe Tennis centre in Soweto.
Trupej admitted that the altitude would play a factor but after practice on Monday his boys felt surprisingly at ease with the altitude.
“We prefer Irene to Soweto, the altitude seemed higher and the court much faster there but here things are different and looking good” said the visitors’ captain.
Asked why the top Slovenian player Blaz Kavcic was not named as part of the team, Trupej said that Kavcic had different priorities.
“It’s a pity that Kavcic is not with us but he has other priorities other than Davis Cup. My other players are here, selected to do a job and will put every effort into the tie. So the priority is focusing on the tie with the team we have here and not that Kavcic is absent from the team,” he concluded.
Marcos Ondruska, the KIA South African team captain said that Irene was especially set up for team South Africa.
“We are the home team, so took full advantage of that and chose Irene Country Club. Irene is proving to be a good hunting ground for our team and although Slovenia seem happy with the venue their likes are just a small percentage of our overall advantage.”
Ondruska continued by saying he was happy with his squad and had a lot of variety to play with.
“My singles and doubles players are all fit and healthy and the next three days will allow me opportunity to test them all and. Come Thursday I feel I will be ready to name the best for man team who I believe have the best shot at pulling off a win this weekend.”
Ondruska also confirmed that former ATP Tour and Davis Cup player Neville Godwin, coach of Kevin Anderson, would be his consultant coach during the tie.
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