Harris to open procedures for SA

Lloyd Harris & Grega Zemilja

In an unexpected move, Slovenia named lower ranked Mike Urbanija to play as their second singles player in the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas tie against KIA South Africa when the official draw was concluded at the Irene Country Club in Pretoria on Thursday afternoon.

The all-important Euro Africa Group 2 second round tie will be played from Friday 7 April to Sunday 9 April at the Irene Country Club.

A win by South Africa will

give them a chance to play the winner of the Denmark versus Norway tie in September for possible promotion into the Euro Africa Group 1 next year.

Gavin Crookes, President of Tennis South Africa (TSA), drew out the name of Urbanija first from the hat, meaning the Slovenian would open procedures on Friday at 3pm CAT (SA, GMT+2) against Lloyd Harris, South Africa’s number one nominated player.

This will be the first time in four ties played that Harris will go out first for his country.

“My team and I were surprised by Urbanija (ranked 857) being named number two player ahead of higher ranked Tomislav Ternar (ranked 792) at the draw. I was expecting Ternar to play but regardless I am prepared for whoever on Friday and am eager and excited to get onto court and open for South Africa,” said Harris.

Urbanija is coming back from injury and this will be his first time playing a live rubber for Slovenia.

South Africa’s Nik Scholtz will go out second for South Africa against the Slovenia number one Grega Zemlja.

Much is weighing in on the shoulders of Zemlja this weekend as he is the highest ranked Slovenian in the team and singles player in the tie and singles points from the 148 ranked Slovenian, who is playing in his 13th Davis Cup year, will give his country their only hope of a win again South Africa.

Zemlja said that he was feeling good about his game and felt that the late start time on Friday would work in his favour.

“We are getting better each day on the altitude and with the weather forecast looking like thunder showers over the weekend and playing in the night, it should slow things down and work in my favour. I enjoy playing under lights and actually feel I am hitting the ball surprisingly well ” said Zemlja.

On Saturday at 3pm Raven Klaasen and Ruan Roelofse will represent the home side and play Slovenians Tomislav Ternar and Tilen Zitnik in the crucial doubles rubber.

On Sunday the reverse singles starts at 11am with the battle of the number ones Harris versus Zemlja followed by the battle of the No 2s Scholtz versus Urbanija.

Marcos Ondruska, captain of South Africa, said that he was happy with the preparation ahead of the tie and felt his team were playing the best tennis he had seen them play going into a tie.

“We are ready for Slovenia. It’s going to be a tough tie but I think my boys are striking the ball well and the team is in good spirit and will give their all and hand South Africa a win.”

Asked about the decision by Slovenian Captain Blaz Trupej to play Urbanija Ondruska said it came as a surprise.

“I didn’t expect the nomination by Slovenia but Davis Cup is a tactical game. Possibly Urbanija played better in practise this week or they will switch the players within the rules come Sunday to have a fresher opponent for Scholtz in the reverse singles. One never knows in Davis Cup what the captains decide which lends to an interesting weekend of tennis.”