Big Kev refuses to change stance

SOUTH AFRICAN Davis Cup captain John-Laffnie de Jager believes the country’s chances of beating Slovenia in a first-round Davis Cup play-off tie in Ljubljana next month would have been 50% better if Kevin Anderson had played, but he has resigned himself to the fact that the world No 19-ranked player won’t be playing.

And he feels it is time to move on, with the big-serving Anderson not likely to be around for Davis Cup action any time soon.

Slovenia have chosen a very slow clay surface for the match, perfect for players brought up in Europe, but not South Africans, who are best suited to fast, hard courts.

So with Anderson out and Izak van der Merwe recuperating from injury, SA will have one new player in their squad.

Dean O’Brien, 23, will join stalwarts Rik de Voest and Raven Klaasen, along with Ruan Roelofse and Nikala Scholtz in the five-man line-up announced by TSA yesterday.

Atlanta-based O’Brien, currently ranked 605th in the world, says he is both honoured and excited to be playing in Slovenia: “To be part of the Davis Cup team and represent my country has been a dream since I was a junior,” he said.

This is a crucial tie as the losers will have to face Russia in the final relegation play-off to see who remains in Euro/Africa Zone Group 1 and who will drop to Group 2 next year.

Victory in Slovenia will see SA automatically stay in Group 1.