Ondruska knows Slovenia well
It’s going to be very close, says SA captain
SLOVENIA may be seeded higher than South Africa, but the hosts will have a slight advantage in their Euro-Africa Group II tie in Irene from 7 to 9 April thanks to non-playing captain Marcos Ondruska’s detailed knowledge of the visiting team’s top players.
Taking on the second-seeded Slovenia in Euro-Africa Group II, South Africa face an uphill battle in their pursuit of promotion to the next tier.
Slovenia boast two players ranked in the top 200 in the world – Blaz Kavcic (136th) and Grega Zemlja (145th).
“I know both guys from Slovenia really well, I used to coach Luca Gregorc who was the first Slovenian to break through into the top 200 and then these two guys followed in his footsteps,” said Ondruska, pictured.
The home team is unchanged from South Africa’s previous tie against Estonia at home in February, which they won comfortably 4-1.
The South African captain named Lloyd Harris, Nik Scholtz, Raven Klaasen, Ruan Roelofse and Tucker Vorster to do duty.
Harris, who recently turned 20, is likely to spearhead South Africa’s charge while Klaasen will be South Africa’s ace in the doubles.
“We saw that Lloyd Harris played Blaz Kavcic in Kyoto recently and he lost to him in the semifinal of the challenge... so I think it is going to be very close,” Ondruska said.
“I think it is going to be very close, it is going to be unlike any tie we’ve had so far, (but) obviously we have the advantage playing at altitude.
“I hope that will help get us through; I am confident but I know these guys are not to be taken lightly.”
South Africa and Slovenia have played each other twice in the past, with one victory apiece for each country.
The winner of this tie faces the winner between Norway and Denmark for a chance of being promoted to Euro/Africa Group I.
Ondruska said it was the “perfect” tie for South African, given his knowledge of the opposition players and the fact that the tie would be on a hard-court surface at altitude.
“Because I know the guys well, I know their ins and outs, and the little details of how we want to play them,” Ondruska said.
“I actually think this is the perfect sort of surface or place for us to play against these guys... it is high bouncing, it’s fast through the air.
“Between the two guys they play a bit different, the nuances are a bit different but as an overall it sort of gives us the best possible advantage.”
Klaasen continues to be the country’s trump card for the Saturday rubber and will be full of confidence following his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title victory with American Rajeev Ram at Indian Wells in California over the weekend.
“I’m honoured to have been trusted yet again to represent my country in this all-important tie against Slovenia,” Klaasen said.
“I’m confident that I, together with my teammates, will do our utmost early next month at Irene Country Club in order to go back to Euro/Africa Group I.
“We’re very familiar with the courts and altitude, which gives us more advantage.”
Meanwhile, rising star Sipho Montsi, who caught the eye of Judy Murray, mother of Sir Andy Murray, when he competed at the junior Australian Open in Melbourne in January earlier this year, will join the squad as an official hitting partner.
The SA team and their current ranking positions: Lloyd Harris (274 singles, 777 doubles); Nik Scholtz (503 singles, 316 doubles); Ruan Roelofse (168 doubles); Tucker Vorster (633 singles, 269 doubles) and Raven Klaasen (10 doubles).