The Sunday Mail
TAKANYI GARANGANGA sent tongues wagging when he missed Zimbabwe’s crucial Davis Cup tie away to Georgia.
The 26 –year old was accused of lacking patriotism among other things after a lightweight Zimbabwean team lost the tie 2-3 and was relegated to the Euro/ Africa Zone Group III.
However, the country’s number one tennis player has opened up on events leading to the Georgia tie and says he is committed to defending the country’s flag in the Davis Cup if his schedule allows.
“I was not available, because I had saved up enough resources in order to have my coach travel with me for the summer schedule in the United States,” Garanganga told The Sunday Mail from Canada last week.
“Unfortunately he came over right when I also got injured.
The right shoulder and pictorial strain and minor hamstring tear forced us not to practice or play tournaments for six weeks.
“That was also during the Davis Cup tie which meant that I wouldn’t even have been able to play the tie either.”
So will you be available for Zimbabwe’s next assignment?
“If I am not committed to other ATP activities during that period, then I will look into Davis Cup,” replied Garanganga.
Zimbabwe dropped five places in the world rankings to occupy position 70 following the Georgia loss.
But the America-based Garanganga believes Zimbabwe can regain promotion into the Euro/Africa Group II.
“I think it’s always a possibility to attain any level of success in Davis Cup,” he said.
This year has been a tough one for Garanganga, who is presently ranked 506 by the ITF after ending 2015 ranked 436.
Garanganga’s best ranking is the 363 he achieved in 2013.
“This year has been a challenge on and off the court,” he admitted.
“Obviously financially, on the families budget, it’s a little more challenging to travel with some people who assist me on my game.
“I also was injured in the middle of the summer (July 2016) not allowing me to perform in competition for about 6 weeks.”
