So close for Earl & Davis Cup team

JACK MILNER

Earl Grainger was thrown into the deep end when John-Laffnie de Jager resigned as South Africa’s Davis Cup captain and Earl was asked to stand in at the last minute. He has been the SA Federation Cup captain for the past year and after a slow start for the girls last year February, they fought back brilliantly to win their way into the Europe/Africa Zone Group 1.

Away Davis Cup ties are never easy and to play in a place like Turkey, is particularly difficult. To make matters worse Earl also went without South Africa’s No 1 player, Kevin Anderson. What he had was a young and inexperienced team, all ranked in the 400s, with the best doubles player in the two teams, in world No 27 Raven Klaasen.

The singles players comprised Fritz Wolmarans, Tucker Vorster and Ruan Roelofse, all ranked between 433 and 449. The Turks had a similar problem but at least their No 1 player had a singles ranking of 77. 

The problem with these players is they rarely get the opportunity to play the best of five sets and the whole approach to the match changes. Players need to keep energy in reserve. Wolmarans opened the tie for South Africa against Turkey’s No 2 Cem Erkel and quickly was up two sets to love. However, he lost the third set in a tie-breaker but raced away to win the fourth set 6-1.

Turkey, as expected, came back to level the tie when their No 1, Marsel Ilhan, comfortably beat Tucker Vorster in straight sets.

South Africa was always expected to win the doubles rubber and when Klaasen and Roelofse led Erkel and Ilhan 6-3 6-2, the outcome looked a formality. However, the South Africans battled to close it out and the Turks won the next two sets to level the match.

Even when South Africa went up a break in the final set, they dropped their serve in the very next game. But Klaasen’s experience coupled with Roelofse’s tenacity saw them win the final set 6-4 to give SA a 2-1 lead. 

“We should have won that match in three sets and I think that would have set the tone for the final day,” said Earl. “By letting the Turks back, we also allowed the crowd back into the match.”

Wolmarans was determined not to go down without a fight against Ilhan. The Turk won the first two sets, but Wolmarans won the next two sets and only capitulated late in the fifth, going down 8-6.

It all came down to the final rubber and once Vorster was declared unable to play by the doctor due to an injury, it all was up to Roelofse.  “We had no choice. The doctor said Tucker wouldn’t have been able to play two sets and we would have lost it on a retirement in any case. But Ruan rose to the occasion and we were just a little bit unlucky.”

Roelofse was involved in a marathon match. He had seven set points in the opening set but lost it 13-11 in the tie-breaker. However, he went on to win the next two sets but like Wolmarans, went down 6-4 in the final set.

“Ruan played well but just didn’t close it out. I think overall we allowed the crowd to influence us. The umpiring was not very good. They even had linesmen who were clapping when Turkey won a point!

“It was a great team effort and we need to continue building for the future,” said Earl.

The next tie will be against Ireland but it is due to be played in South Africa after Wimbledon in July. 

One has to accept that when a person like Earl steps into a role like this, the daggers are out. “I realise I haven’t played at the top level of the game and I knew I was going to be criticised. I told the team that I can’t offer what JL (De Jager) has to offer.

“My biggest asset is to build the team. I know what I’m about and I’m a great motivator. I wanted a positive aura around the team and I told them we are moving on from the past.”

Earl has opened the lines for Anderson and they are discussing the possibility of the world No 17 playing for his country.

Earl had also managed to convince Chani Scheepers to return to the Fed Cup team and that made a huge difference in their Europe/Africa Zone 2 competition in Estonia last month.

Considering the odds against them, the SA Davis Cup team performed very well in Turkey and Earl has to be complemented for a job well done. It can only get better from here.