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Pretoria - The Irene Country Club in Centurion is becoming the popular hunting ground for the South African Davis Cup team.
For the fifth consecutive year, Tennis South Africa (TSA) announced a return to the picturesque country club for next year’s all-important Euro/Africa Davis Cup Group II first round tie against Estonia (February 3-5).
This will be the first time that South Africa and Estonia meet in Davis Cup competition.
The South Africans, seeded 8 in the Group are ranked 58 on the Davis Cup world rankings, 22 spots ahead of Estonia who are at 80.
The announcement of Irene Country Club as venue was welcomed by South African Davis Cup Captain, Marcos Ondruska.
“I’m delighted we will be back at Irene Country Club for Davis Cup early next year. We have enjoyed great support from the people of Gauteng over the years when playing home ties at Irene and the faster court and altitude will play in the favour of South Africa.”
A dominant South African Davis Cup team romped to a 5-0 win over Luxembourg at the same venue in March this year.
Of the ties played at Irene in the past four years, South Africa have beaten Monaco 3-2 (January 2013), Ireland 5-0 (July 2015) and Luxembourg. The only loss South Africa have had at Irene was against Lithuania 3-2 (April 2014).
This year South Africa suffered a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat to Lithuania away in July, but remained in Euro/Africa Zone Group II after beating Luxembourg.
Estonia were promoted to Group II after winning their Group III competition at home this year.
Newly appointed TSA CEO, Richard Glover, commented: “The Irene Country Club is a beautiful, family friendly venue for tennis and this year we are spending more time on enhancing the spectator experience. It promises to be three days of cracking action and I really hope tennis fans turn out in their droves to support the team.”
The winner of the tie will play the winner of the Monaco v Slovenia tie in April 2017, while the loser will play in the Euro/Africa Zone Group II playoffs against the loser of the Monaco v Slovenia tie - also in April 2017.
