South Africa can qualify for the Davis Cup world group if they have a full-strength team available, the national tennis team’s coach said on Wednesday.
The squad has lost in qualification play-offs for the top tier of the team competition for the past two year, but coach John-Laffnie de Jager believes the possible return of Kevin Anderson could make the difference.
“We need to convince Kevin Anderson to play Davis Cup again,” he said. “If we can field our best team we have a good shot.”
Anderson made himself available for the team this year for the first time since 2008.
However, the big-serving South African number one injured his foot before the tie with Germany in September and was forced to withdraw with doubles specialist Jeff Coetzee, who injured his hamstring.
The visitors lost 5-0 to the Germans and retained their place in Group I of the Euro/Africa Zone.
Anderson has not confirmed whether he will be available for Davis Cup ties next year.
Consistency
De Jager was pleased with the team’s consistency in the absence of the country’s top-ranked player.
“The guys really lift their game when they play for South Africa,” he said.
There were some impressive highlights from South African men and women on this year’s international tours.
Anderson was in top form, climbing more than 100 places from the start of 2010 to break into the top 60 in the world rankings.
The 24-year-old reached the third round of the US Open in September after defeating world number 28 Thomaz Bellucci in the second round.
Doubles specialist Wesley Moodie also had a superb season, reaching the semifinals at Wimbledon and the French Open with Belgian partner Dick Norman.
The 31-year-old also teamed up with Lisa Raymond, of the Unites States, to reach the final of the mixed doubles at Wimbledon.
‘We have to get all our top players to play’
Chanelle Scheepers ensured that progress was made on the women’s side by breaking into the top 100 in the world.
Scheepers (26) reached the fourth round of the French Open where she was eliminated by world number five Elena Dementieva of Russia.
The Fed Cup team continued to struggle and were relegated to Group III of the Euro/Africa Zone after losing 2-1 to Armenia in a play-off in Yerevan in May.
De Jager believes the women’s squad has the ability to improve its status in the competition.
But the likes of Scheepers, who hasn’t played in a Fed Cup tie since 2005, and doubles specialist Natalie Grandin, who last played in April 2009, would need to make themselves available.
“We do have the players, but once again we have to get all our top players to play,” he said.
With South Africans rising the rankings on the ATP and WTA Tours, De Jager said the future looked bright for tennis in the country.
The youngsters on the rise, however, would need sufficient support.
“We have some talented juniors but they don’t get enough international exposure,” said De Jager, who runs his own tennis academy.
“Marc van der Merwe and Matthew Rossouw are our two best prospects on the boys’ side and on the girls’ side we have Lyn Kiro, Madrie le Roux and Ilze Hattingh.”
South Africa’s Davis Cup team have a bye in the first round of the 2011 competition. They will face either the Ukraine or The Netherlands in the second round.
The Fed Cup team will fight in the bottom tier of their zone for promotion back to Group II. — Sapa