TENNIS NEWS - It was a sombre atmosphere at the Irene Country Club in Pretoria late on Saturday afternoon as the KIA South Africa Davis Cup side lost to Israel in the Davis Cup Euro/Africa Group 1.
Credit must go to the visitors, who came from 1-2 down to beat South Africa 3-2, which secures them a spot in Euro/Africa Group 1 in 2019.
South Africa will face either Sweden, Ukraine or Portugal in a relegation playoff in September with the winner remaining in Group 1 and the loser relegated to Group 2.
South Africa and Israel were tied at 1-1 on Saturday morning after Lloyd Harris opened up for South Africa on Friday, beating Edan Leshem 7-5 6-4, followed by Dudi Sela giving Israel the equalising point when he beat Nik Scholtz in a marathon rain delayed three-set battle, 6-1 6-7 (1) 7-5.
In the first rubber played on Saturday, South Africa’s doubles team of Raven Klaasen and Ruan Roelofse overcame a strong challenge from Israeli’s Jonathan Erlich and Dudi Sela. The South Africans came from a set down to win 5-7 6-4 6-4. Klaasen and Roelofse remain unbeaten in Davis Cup action.
With South Africa leading the tie 2-1, only one of the two reverse singles were required to be won to clinch the tie.
