Segal blames Anderson for loss
Instead of competing for the fifth successive time in September’s Davis Cup World Group playoffs after a frustrating absence from the elite section of the competition for 15 years, the defeat against Poland last weekend has left SA having to battle to avoid relegation from Euro-Africa Group One. And South African tennis legend Abe Segal blames Kevin Anderson. Segal believes that had Anderson participated in the tie against Poland, the 4-1 defeat suffered by SA would have been overturned. “I watched the tie on TV,” he says, “and was convinced that Anderson, judging on his recent impressive form, would have won both his singles matches hands down had he played. Allied to Rik de Voest’s courageous win, SA would have qualified for the World Group playoffs — and we might even have reversed the result of the doubles as well.”