IT was all up to the last match for South Africa to make the Euro/Africa Group 1 in 2019, but unfortunately, the young team succumbed to Israel.
The Davis Cup Tie, which took place at the Irene Country club on February 2 and 3, was played on the new format of two days in which all matches were to be concluded.
KIA South Africa Davis Cup side lost to Israel 3-2 and will now face Sweden, Ukraine or Portugal in a relegation playoff in September with the winner remaining in Group 1 and the loser relegated to Group 2.
Photo: Annette van Schalkwyk.
The South African’s got off with a mixed result on the first day, Frida, with SA’s number one Lloyd Harris beating Edan Leshem, Israel’s number 2, 7-5 6-4 followed by Dudi Sela, number 1, giving Israel the equalising point when he beat Nik Scholtz, number 2, in a marathon rain delayed three-set battle 6-1 6-7 (1) 7-5.
Thus, South Africa and Israel came out to court on Saturday morning 1-1. In the first rubber, 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.
With South Africa leading the tie 2-1, only one of the two reverse singles were required to be won to clinch the tie.
But Israel was having nothing of it. In the battle of the number ones, Dudi Sela showed his “top 100 ranking” class to beat Lloyd Harris 7-6 (2) 6-1.
Photo: Annette van Schalkwyk.
Harris competed well in the opening set but seemed bothered in the breaker and second set and admitted he wasn’t himself but gave credit to Sela who he said was a “good friend and a hero” in his eyes.
With the tie levelled at 2-2, the pressure was on Nik Scholtz (South Africa) and Edan Leshem (Israel) to deliver the victory for their respective countries.
The higher ranked Leshem prevailed and delivered the win for Israel when he overcame a strong challenge from Scholtz, winning 6-3 7-5.
A disappointed Marcos Ondruska, captain of the KIA SA team said, “Things were running very well, being 2-1 up is significantly better than being 1-2 down, but from experience, I knew it was far from over. To lose like this is tough.”
Photo: Annette van Schalkwyk.
“Israel was serious, they came well prepared, were on a mission and took every opportunity to win,” said Ondruska.
Harel Levy, the captain of Israel said, “Obviously we are happy with the win and credit to my players who delivered. Dudi Sela had to play eight sets in less than 24 hours and that was a big ask. I was hoping after the doubles we would need only one point but we lost the doubles, Dudi only had 30 minutes to shower, eat and recover – and hats off to Dudi for coming back on court and beating Harris the way he did.”
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