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Zim move up in Davis Cup rankings

Sport
ZIMBABWE has jumped 11 places up to 64th on the latest Davis Cup rankings following an emphatic 5-0 thrashing of East Europe opponents Moldova in a Euro/Africa Zone Group II tennis play-off tie at Harare Sports Club this past weekend.

ZIMBABWE has jumped 11 places up to 64th on the latest Davis Cup rankings following an emphatic 5-0 thrashing of East Europe opponents Moldova in a Euro/Africa Zone Group II tennis play-off tie at Harare Sports Club this past weekend.

By Munyaradzi Madzokere

The team led by non-playing captain Martin Dzuwa becomes the second best African nation on the list after neighbours South Africa, who dropped a massive 14 places despite a 5-0 routing of Ireland in the Euro/Africa Zone Group II first round encounter and are now in 57th position.

Before the weekend matches Moldova were ranked 51st with the local team 75th, but have since dropped one place into 52nd after the weekend defeat.

With Davis Cup legend Wayne Black assisting the team, Zimbabwe’s top-ranked star Takanyi Garanganga won both his singles rubbers as did number two Benjamin Lock, while Mark Fynn and debutant Courtney Lock won the doubles on Saturday to help the country record a rare Davis Cup win at home.

The Davis Cup team last won a home tie back in February 2004 after a hard-fought 3-2 win over Greece at the Harare Sports Club when Black, Kevin Ullyet, Genius Chidzikwe and Gwinyai Tongoona made up the Zimbabwe team.

It was in a Euro/Africa Zone Group I first round encounter. After spending eight years in the lower Davis Cup groups, Zimbabwe is enjoying a new lease of life in Group II, where countries have an opportunity to host ties, after gaining promotion in Egypt last September.

Despite losing 4-1 at home to Bosnia/Herzegovina in March this year, the weekend win ensured that the local team stays in the group for yet another year.

Tennis Zimbabwe administrator Cliff Nhokwara explained what happens after Zimbabwe’s win over Moldova.

“The win means that we stay in the Euro/Africa Group II while Moldova has been relegated to Group III and we wait for a draw that will be conducted in September or October to know our next opponents,” said Nhokwara.

“This time we are competing to be promoted into Group I and if we lose our next match we are back in the relegation play-off and if we win then we progress to Group I qualification play-offs,” he added.

The draw will also decide whether Zimbabwe plays at home again but after receiving a favourable draw last year Zimbabwe may not be as lucky this time around and may have to play away from home. Zimbabwe last played in Group I back in September 2005.