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Ellina Mhlanga-Senior Sports Reporter

THE Zimbabwe Davis Cup team bounced to the World Group II Play-offs after beating Senegal 2-1 yesterday at the ongoing Davis Cup Africa Group III tournament at the University of Pretoria, South Africa.

Zimbabwe needed a win yesterday to ensure they keep their hopes of getting promoted back into the World Group II Play-offs alive and they rose to challenge after grabbing their second win in Pool B.

With Namibia, who were leading Pool B going into yesterday’s matches, losing to Benin 1-2, Zimbabwe seized the number one spot and earned promotion back into the World Group II Play-offs in 2024.

Zimbabwe and hosts South Africa are among the three teams to be promoted into the World Group II Play-offs after topping their groups. The third slot will be decided today in the promotional play-off between Benin and Togo.

Zimbabwe will face Pool A winners South Africa to determine the final positions.

Posting on their Facebook yesterday, Tennis Zimbabwe hailed the team for their efforts.

“Our Davis Cup Team has topped Group B after beating Benin and Senegal. This means we automatically qualify for promotion into the World Group II.

“Well done Takanyi Garanganga, Benjamin Lock, Benedict Badza, Liberty Nzula, Takura Mhwandagara, you have made us proud. Many thanks to our sponsor Econet Zimbabwe. Tomorrow (today) we play South Africa in the position 1 and 2 play off.”

In yesterday’s match, Benedict Badza had a good start to the tie when he beat Senegal’s Hassimiyou Dieng 6-2, 7-6 (1) in the first singles match to take Zimbabwe into the lead.

However, Benjamin Lock lost the second match to Seydina Andre 3-6, 3-6, allowing Senegal to level the score.

But it was Zimbabwe who emerged the better team of the day with Lock and Badza defeating Seydina and Hassimiyou in straight sets 6-4, 6-3 in the doubles.

Captain Takanyi Garanganga was pleased with the outcome and is hopeful of their match against South Africa today.

“It was tough obviously the whole tie because all the matches were lively. We had to always pull through, win every single match that was left.

“The young man Benedict Badza did well especially today; he played good singles and doubles. It’s a team effort and he lifted up the team actually.

“Ben had a tough day today against Senegal but he has been playing well throughout the whole season since the beginning of the year. Hopefully, the rest of the season will be even much better for him, he needs to continue to do that.

“The expectations for South Africa tomorrow is to just go out there and keep swinging, play the game the way the guys have been doing. I think they have gained some confidence, both Ben and Benedict, coming from playing on sea level and then getting used to playing at altitude, so that’s a good thing.

“So it should be a competitive match. South Africa have been playing well, we are looking forward to it,” said Garanganga.

Zimbabwe had on Thursday defeated Benin 2-1 to keep their hopes of promotion alive having lost the opening tie 1-2 to Namibia.

South Africa topped Pool A when dismissing Togo 3-0 yesterday. The hosts won all their Pool A matches, beating Algeria by the same score in the first tie. They then beat Cote d’Ivoire 2-1 in the second tie on Thursday.

Togo finished second following their wins against Cote d’Ivoire and Algeria to remain on course to fight for the last promotional spot against Benin whose victories against Namibia and Senegal ensured them a place in the promotional play-off as well.

In the relegation play-off Cote d’Ivoire are up against Senegal while Namibia face Algeria.

Two teams will be relegated to the Africa Group IV.