Tennis
Roelofse goes down in Soweto
2012-04-06 13:56
Johannesburg - Slovenia's No 1, Blaz Kavcic, struck the first blow of the Euro-Africa Group One Davis Cup tie with a 6-7(4-6), 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 victory over South Africa's Ruan Roelofse at the Arthur Ashe Tennis Complex, in Soweto, on Friday.
Roelofse started in aggressive fashion, demonstrating a strong forehand but an error-stricken backhand.
The South African began the match by double faulting on his serve in the first game, as he was broken early on, but fought back to break Kavcic in the sixth game.
After a number of tight games that followed, the opening set went to a tie-break, and Roelofse composed himself to prevail 7-4.
The Slovenian then began to show his class as he broke Roelofse in his first service game in the second set, and again in the sixth game to win 6-1.
The third set was one-way traffic as Kavcic won by the same 6-1 margin, and he dominated again in the fourth.
Roelofse tried to get back into the match but the Slovenian won 6-3 to hand the visitors the first point of the tie.
South Africa's No 1, Izak van der Merwe, is up against Grega Zemja in Friday's second singles rubber.