World Group is SA’s next target
The national tennis team has the ability to return to the top-flight World Group division after a 20-year absence, according to SA Davis Cup captain Marcos Ondruska, after they took a crucial step forward by earning promotion to Euro-Africa Group 1 this season.
Ondruska, who was appointed last year, signed a three-year extension to his contract with Tennis SA (TSA) as non-playing skipper, it was confirmed yesterday.
“We are excited to work closely together and to give a good push to get the team into the World Group,” Ondruska said.
“This has been the goal since I started and we’ll continue to move forward and find ways to support the team to reach this.”
The SA squad reached the World Group play-offs four years in succession between 2009 and 2012, but could not reach the elite ranks, and in 2015 they reached a low point when they narrowly escaped relegation to Group 3.
Ondruska guided the team to a 3-1 victory over Denmark in Aarhus this season, as they clawed their way out of Group 2.
Spearheaded by 20-year-old singles ace Lloyd Harris and veteran doubles specialist Raven Klaasen, in the indefinite absence of SA No 1 Kevin Anderson, the squad aimed to return to the topflight World Group for the first time since 1998.
“It was a very easy decision to reappoint Marcos,” said TSA chief executive Richard Glover.
“He has proven to be an excellent captain and has built a very positive culture in the team. He is a big asset for tennis in South Africa and we are looking to involve him in other aspects of our high performance programme, as we look to build depth within our Davis Cup structures.”
Ondruska will also take control as coach of the national junior men’s team.