Harris spearheads Davis Cup attack

Lloyd Harris will spearhead South Africa’s Davis Cup attack as they aim to take a step back towards the elite of the tennis competition when they square off against Bulgaria on Friday and Saturday.

At 113 in the world‚ Harris is the highest ranked player from both teams in the tie and shoulders most of the pressure as a consequence. His ranking has been as high as 85 this year.

The Euro/Africa Group II match‚ to be played at Kelvin Grove in Newlands‚ is the first time in 20 years that Davis Cup will be played in Cape Town and the sellout crowd for both days should make for a good atmosphere.

For the winner the prize is a shot at a playoff to get into Group I and from there into the revamped Davis Cup World Group.

Harris will open the tie when he takes on Alexandar Lazarov‚ ranked 502 in the opening match on Friday.

SA number two Ruan Roelofse (ranked 681) against Bulgarian number one Dimitar Kuzmanov (324) in the world‚ follows in match two.

The doubles‚ featuring Raven Klaasen and Roelofse against Gabriel Donev and Alexander Donski takes place on Saturday with the reverse singles to follow that match.

“I’ve seen Kuzmanov around on tour a little bit‚ but I’ve never really seen these guys play‚” Harris‚ who hails from Sea Point‚ said.

“It’s so special to play Davis Cup in my hometown. It’s something I’ve been wanting for a long time. I’m happy it’s finally happened and it will be great to have all the local support and some friends.”

On paper Harris and doubles specialist Klaasen should be the difference between the two sides‚ and there is a high level of expectation from Team SA.

Klaasen‚ 36‚ was a teenager the last time the Davis Cup was played in Cape Town in 1999 but he remembers it well. “It was against Belarus played at Rondebosch’s court 1 and it featured Wayne Ferreira and Max Mirnyi.” — DDC