The South African Davis Cup team secured a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Nigeria in their World Group II play-off, showcasing resilience and determination throughout the competition.
The South African Davis Cup team fought hard to secure a 3-1 victory over Nigeria in their World Group II play-off at Groenkloof Tennis Stadium in Pretoria on Sunday. The South Africans, led by captain Pietie Norval, entered the second day of the tie tied at one-all with their West African visitors. Despite a significant difference in ranking, Nigeria had defied expectations on the opening day of the competition.
Philip Henning, South Africa's top-ranked player, dominated his singles match against Nigeria's No. 2, David Ekpenyong, securing a convincing 6-1, 6-1 win. However, Nigeria's No. 1 seed, Christopher Bulus, stunned the home crowd with a 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7/4) victory over South Africa's Kris van Wyk in the second singles rubber. This set up a tense second day for the South Africans, despite Norval's confidence in his team's doubles prowess. There was a hint of nervousness in the home team's strategy as they opted to pair Alec Beckley with Henning in the doubles rubber against the Nigerian duo of Abua Canice and Michael Emmanuel, instead of 18-year-old Leo Matthysen. This decision seemed to pay off as the more experienced South Africans effortlessly defeated their rivals, winning 6-0, 6-3. Skipper Norval's gamble seemed to work in his favor when Henning took the court again to face Bulus in the reverse singles. It appeared that Norval was taking no chances, wanting his star player to settle the tie without needing the final singles match. However, Bulus seemed to defy expectations, taking a tight first set in the tie-break with a solid service game and impressive defensive and counter-attacking abilities from the baseline. He also varied his pace, incorporating occasional drop shots to keep Henning on his toes. The Nigerian player, ranked 1018, was proving to be a formidable opponent against a player 692 places above him at 326. Norval's gamble appeared to be backfiring as the top-ranked South African battled to regain control. But Henning displayed remarkable fighting spirit, winning the second set 6-4. He started finding his range with powerful ground strokes, moving his opponent around the court in the intense Pretoria heat. Bulus, visibly tiring, struggled to maintain his initial dominance. In the third set, with the score tied at 2-2, Henning seized the opportunity, breaking Bulus' serve. Despite Bulus' resistance, Henning ultimately secured the final set 6-4, clinching the match for South Africa. Norval, a relieved captain, praised Bulus' performance, describing him as playing more like a top-200 or top-300 player. He acknowledged the Nigerian's tenacity and commended Henning for his resilience in overcoming a formidable opponent. The South African team will now compete in World Group II, with the opportunity to advance to World Group I, which features some of the world's top tennis nations
DAVIS CUP SOUTH AFRICA NIGERIA TENNIS PHILIP HENNING CHRISTOPHER BULUS
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