Weakened SA Davis Cup team ready for Slovenia

02 April 2012 - 20:32 By CHUMANI BAMBANI
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The SA Davis Cup team is ready to do business without two of their top-ranked players Kevin Anderson and Rik de Voest when they take on Slovenia at Soweto’s Arthur Ashe tennis grounds this weekend.

 SA will take to the courts with a fairly inexperienced team with Izak van der Merwe and Raven Klaasen taking up leadership roles for debutants Jean Anderson and Ruan Roelofse.
“We will have to do with what we have. A guy like Izak (van der Merwe) has only lost one match in two years here. All the other guys have also had good results recently. Our focus is on the guys in the team. We are looking forward to the weekend. We are here to win, not to lose,” said captain John-Laffnie de Jager.
“It is sad that Rik (de Voest) and Kevin (Anderson) are not here. There have been reports that Kevin has turned his back on his country – that is not the case. Anyway, we are not here to focus on those guys. We have experienced guys who can play at high altitude,” he added.
The high altitude will prove to be the deciding factor according to both sides.
On their opponents, De Jager said that the Slovenians have quality players who can adapt to the altitude, especially their top-ranked star Blaz Kavcic who has a world ranking of 70.
Slovenia’s captain Blaz Trupej indicated that they expected tough competition from their SA counterparts.
“We know it will be tough against SA. The high altitude will make it very difficult for us to play in these conditions. We will have problems controlling the ball. SA have an advantage, but we will fight and try to do our best,” said Trupej.
He also conceded that his players have been struggling with form so far this season, but remained confident that they would find their form in Soweto.
Van der Merwe said that he was excited to be playing as the number one ranked South African in the tie.
“When I found out I would be here it was exciting. I’m more excited to be playing as the number one. We know what to we are going to do and know what to expect,” he said.
Debutants Roelofse and Anderson are excited and confident going into the tie. Both players feel that their practice week in the run-up to the competition have gone according to plan.
The draw for the weekend’s matches will take place on Thursday.

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