GARANGANGA FEELS ZIM COULD HAVE WON WORLD CUP TIE

ZIMBABWE Davis Cup team non-playing captain Takanyi Garanganga says their tie against Hong Kong in a World Group II Playoff was a battle they should have won.

The showdown was at the Victoria Park Tennis Stadium at the weekend.

However, Zimbabwe lost 3-1 to the hosts, which saw them being relegated to Africa Group III. The team featured Benjamin Lock and Courtney Lock, who were the most experienced players for the side. They were joined by Benedict Badza and Tatenda Mutetwa.

Badza graduated from the development squad and played his first match during the Africa Group III event last year in South Africa. Mutetwa was roped in for the first time.

“We didn’t get the results that we expected against Hong Kong this past weekend. It was a winnable tie.

“The team didn’t perform to the standard that I would have loved them to perform. But it’s one of those things that is not easy for us to always swallow.

“Moving forward, probably our preparations need to be way much better after losing 3-1. Benedict Badza ended up winning his singles.”

Badza won the dead rubber, with Zimbabwe having lost the first two singles and the doubles match.

Zimbabwe will play in the Africa Group III event later in the year to try and secure a slot back to the World Group II Play-offs.

And this being the third year in a row, that they have been relegated, more needs be done if the country is to make progress in the event.

Garanganga, a former Davis Cup player himself said there is need to look at the bigger picture which is not just to earn promotion back into Group II but advancing to the highest level of the event.

“But we have got to look at the big picture of striving to World Group I and Davis Cup end of the year finals qualifiers. But the team will bounce back,” said Garanganga.