I survived quake, I can shake off big Nestor serve – Rik

RIK de Voest’s attitude is that if he can survive an earthquake, he shouldn’t have too much of a problem getting through a Davis Cup tie against Canada, even if the North Americans are clear favourites on paper.

South Africa take on Canada in a crucial BNP Paribas World Group play-off tie in Montreal from tomorrow, and De Voest – who with his wife Carolyn was holidaying in Costa Rica when a sizeable ’quake hit that country – feels that although the underdogs, SA can turn the tables on a team that includes the world’s No3 doubles player, David Nestor. “Look, our hearts were pounding in Costa Rica and the ground was shaking but we escaped. Somehow, that experience makes it a little easier now to face a big Nestor serve,” De Voest said from Montreal yesterday.

He is a player who wears his heart on his sleeve, passionate about playing for his country, and the consensus among the South Africans – Izak van der Merwe, doubles specialist Raven Klassen and rookie Nikala Scholtz are the other team members – is the Davis Cup is not won on paper. They believe they have a chance of upending the Canadians to get back into Davis Cup’s elite, 16-nation World Group.

There are two singles tomorrow, the double rubber on Saturday, and the two reverse singles on Sunday. That’s five matches in all, and in this regard big-serving Van der Merwe is taking a pragmatic approach. “Look, we don’t have to win all five – three will do nicely. And the tie is on hard courts outdoor, the kind of surfaces we have all grown up on at home. We’ve been practising since Sunday, and are comfortable on the courts.”

The draw is today and the only certainty is that Klassen will play doubles. He’s had a good summer on the courts of America this year, reaching the semi-finals in Atlanta, and the US Open third round.

Besides Nestor, Canada are represented by Frank Dancevic, Daniel Nestor, Vasek Pospisil, and Milos Raonic – at 15th in the world their highest-ranked singles player ever. SuperSport will cover the tie live from 7pm tomorrow, 8pm on Saturday and 7pm on Sunday (SA times).

SA’s top-ranked Kevin Anderson made himself unavailable for the tie, opting instead to play in the money-spinning World Team Tennis Finals this weekend.

Tickets giveaway for Amakhosi match

THE Star and Kaizer Chiefs are giving away 20 double tickets for Amakhosi’s match against Black Leopards at FNB Stadium on Saturday (8.15pm). To win, call (011) 633-2131 between 2- 2.30pm today.

Cavendish claims gold jersey

TEAM Sky rider Mark Cavendish was victorious in a sprint finish on the fourth stage of the Tour of Great Britain in Blackpool yesterday, as he claimed the overall leader’s gold jersey. The defending world road race champion started the day level with Australia’s Leigh Howard of OricaGreenEdge atop the standings. Cavendish was part of the peloton that eventually closed down a small breakaway group towards the end of the 156km ride and, after being led out by Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins and Luke Rowe, the Manxman crossed the line under the city’s iconic tower just in front of Australia’s Garmin rider Steele van Hoff.

Speed lands Rio in more trouble

MANCHESTER United defender Rio Ferdinand has been handed a six-month driving ban after he was caught speeding three times in five weeks on the same road. The former England captain was snapped in his Jaguar XJ speeding through a 30mph zone as he drove to and from training. The 33-year-old tried to beat a ban by pleading he needed his licence to take his two sons to school.

Vermaak hearing go-ahead

SUSPENDED Athletics SA (ASA) chief executive Frik Vermaak will face a disciplinary hearing today. “The hearing will be held with an independent attorney, in Johannesburg,” ASA president James Evans said. Vermaak is charged with alleged misappropriation of funds and dishonesty relating to his employment credentials. An athletics commentator for the SABC, Vermaak was appointed ASA chief executive in December after a tumultuous two-year period for the athletics body.

Gunners’ escape plan for Drogba

ARSENAL are ready to offer Didier Drogba an escape from his China crisis. The 34-year-old former Chelsea striker has been caught up in a boardroom power struggle just three months after signing a £200 000 a week contract with Shanghai Shenhua. The Gunners, desperate to fill the void left by Robin van Persie, have made enquiries with the Chinese club to see if there is a way of bringing Drogba back to London, reports The Sun. Liverpool and Real Madrid are also ready to pounce if Drogba indicates he wants to leave.

English FA sign new deal with BT

THE English Premiership have signed an exclusive broadcast rights from next season with BT in a deal worth up to £152-million, officials announced yesterday in a move that could have ramifications for European rugby as well. The four-year contract will see satellite channels BSkyB and ESPN, who currently split coverage of matches, replaced by BT Vision as the only platform on which to watch top-flight English club rugby from the 2013/14 season onwards – when the telecoms company will also start broadcasting live football matches for the first time.

Govt will back sporting codes – Gert

THE South African government will continue backing sporting codes bidding to host international events and tournaments, deputy sports minister Gert Oosthuizen said yesterday. This was an attempt to boost sport tourism to the country, he told a sport and events tourism exchange conference in Durban.

Ferrero to hang up his racquet

FORMER world No1 Juan Carlos Ferrero will retire from professional tennis next month after a 14-year career in which he won 16 tour titles, he said yesterday. Ferrero, 32, said he would retire after the Valencia Open 500 tournament in his home city in eastern Spain from October 20 to 28.

Hatton poised to make a comeback

FORMER light-welterweight champion Ricky Hatton is set to come out of retirement after three years, having called a news conference for tomorrow to make a “major announcement”. The 33-year-old Briton has not fought since a second-round knockout by Manny Pacquiao in 2009. Hatton has previously described how he slipped into depression and considered suicide while trying to come to grips with the loss. – Sapa-AFP/AP/Reuters