SOUTH Africa has beaten Monaco 3-2 to advance to round two of the Euro/Africa 2 Davis Cup competition.
Their fighting spirit took them through to the next round and they will take on Lithuania in a home tie in April. South Africa’s number one player, Rik de Voest, will most probably not be available for this tie. His wife is expecting their first-born.
De Voest salvaged some pride on Sunday February 2 when he came out and confidently beat Monaco’s number one, Benjamin Balleret, 7-6 (3) 6-2 6-3 at the Irene Country Club outside Pretoria.
It was a very different De Voest that came onto court Sunday than the player who did battle on Friday January 31. When De Voest lost the opening rubber on Friday against Romain Arneodo, he struggled with his serve and didn’t play the big points well. But on Sunday De Voest was on top of his game and troubled Balleret from start to finish.
“I just felt so motivated and on fire today,” said De Voest. “I put up a big fight on Friday but didn’t play that well. Today I played well. I was motivated to do well and restore some pride before my home crowd fans.”
Balleret said that he always knew De Voest was going to be a tough opponent. “We both had lost going into Sunday’s rubber, so whoever lost on Sunday was going to be loser of the weekend. I didn’t want that and nor did Rik, and I must give credit to Rik for lifting his game to the level he did. He was by far the better player out there.”
In the final rubber of the tie, due to the tie already having been decided, Referee Wael Abbas announced that the rubber would be contested over three tie-break sets. Romain Arneodo took the opening set 7-5 against Nik Scholtz ,when Scholtz threw in the towel due to a persistent hip flexor strain.
South African captain John-Laffnie De Jager was delighted with the win. “A win is a win. We are so happy that we could pull off the win against Monaco before an enthusiastic home crowd. I must give credit to Monaco for the big fight they put up. But huge applause to the South African lads for pulling off the win. Rik was a very different player on Sunday. Rik was the Rik I am used to and he proved once again to be such a crucial part of our side.”
De Jager had huge compliments for the Irene Country Club and crowds.
South Africa will now face Lithuania at home from April 4 to 6. Tennis South Africa will be announcing the venue of the April home tie in the next few weeks.
Results:
South Africa beat Monaco 3-2
Friday Janaury 31 – Rik De Voest (RSA) lost to Romain Arneodo (Mon) 5-7 6-3 5-7 7-5 4-6
Saturday February 1
Nik Scholtz (RSA) beat Benjamin Balleret (Mon) 7-5 7-6 (3) 3-6 3-6 6-3
Followed by Raven Klaasen/Ruan Roelofse (RSA) beat Guillaume Couillard/Thomas Oger (Mon) 6-4 6-4 3-6 4-6 6-3.
Sunday February 2
Rik De Voest (RSA) beat Benjamin Balleret (Mon) 7-6 (3) 6-2 6-3
Followed by Nik Scholtz (RSA) lost to Romain Arneodo (Mon) 7-5 (Scholtz returned from a leg injury)
