The Sunday Mail
ZIMBABWE Davis Cup captain Gwinyai Tongoona believes there cannot be success without tests.
A huge one awaits Tongoona and his team as they return to action with a Euro/Africa Group II tie against Turkey at Harare Sports Club from February 3-4.
It’s not only the Europeans who are ranked 49th in the world, 24 places above Zimbabwe, that will test the locals.
Zimbabwe will also deal with a challenging new format.
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) board of directors voted to test a two-day format of best-of-three-set matches in Zone Group I and II starting next month.
This means two singles matches will be played on day one while the doubles match and two reverse singles matches will be staged on the second day.
Both teams will be challenged on resolve and resilience as much as skill and fitness.
“Mentally you got to be prepared for shorter matches as someone may opt to play more aggressively because they don’t have to conserve energy,” said Tongoona.
“Obviously we have to be ready to compete and fight. We understand the physical demands of this format, but I back these guys, they are fit they have been working hard doing extra running and gym work.”
Benjamin Lock and Takanyi Garanganga are likely to make up the doubles team in the absence of doubles specialist Courtney Lock.
“Courtney will be unavailable due to college commitments, so at this stage it looks like Takanyi and Benji will be our doubles team.
“They have played together before and Benji won six consecutive doubles titles at the end of last year, so I am confident with these two,” said the Davis Cup captain.
The 43-year-old Tongoona revealed that they have been analysing their opponents for some time now.
“It’s not any easy tie, but we have home advantage and I think Takanyi and Benji play the same level as the guys who play number one and two for Turkey so yes we have chances. We have to go out there and fight,” he said.
Turkey are expected to have Marsel Ilhan, who is ranked 310, Cem Ilkel (269) and Altug Celikbilek (416) in their team.
This will be Zimbabwe and Turkey’s third Davis Cup meeting with the first one coming in 1983 which Zimbabwe won 5-0 in Istanbul.
Turkey got their revenge in a Group III Europe/Africa Zone A round robin tie with a 3-0 win in Bulgaria in 2008.
