Dream start for SA women

Johannesburg - South Africa's young women's tennis team secured a 3-0 victory over Denmark in their opening match of the Fed Cup Euro-Africa Group II tournament in Cairo, Egypt, on Wednesday.

The South Africans, promoted this season from Group III, won both singles matches and the doubles encounter against the Danish side.

Teenager Ilze Hattingh, 15, defeated Mai Grage 7-6 (7/4), 5-7, 6-0 and veteran Natalie Grandin edged out Karet Barbat 7-6 (7/2), 6-4 in the singles encounters.

Grandin paired up with Madrie le Roux, who turns 17 on Thursday, to beat Grage and Cecilie Melsted 7-5, 6-3 in the doubles match.

"The conditions were real tough and the start of play was delayed by over two hours due to a massive sand storm," said SA captain John-Laffnie de Jager.

"The clay was blowing all over the show but our team kept their composure and clinched the tie to give us a dream start."

South Africa play their second Pool A match against Finland on Thursday.

The top teams in each pool will play for promotion to the Euro-Africa Group I next season, while the two bottom sides will square off in an effort to escape relegation.