Davis Cup: South Africa vs. Croatia

Former champions Croatia will be battling the conditions as much as the opposition when they face South Africa in the Davis Cup World Group playoffs this weekend.

There may have been a pleasant breeze wafting through the Fanie Du Toit Sports Stadium in Potchefstroom on Thursday as the draw was made for this tie but baking conditions are expected for the weekend, something the South Africans are hoping will shift the tie in their favour.

 

The hosts are the distinct underdogs with Croatia fielding an in form Marin Cilic, fresh from pushing Roger Federer close at the US Open, plus Ivan Dodig who stunned Rafael Nadal in Montreal this summer.

Home hopes rest mainly on the considerable shoulders of 6'7 Kevin Anderson, one of the few men the 6'6 Marin Cilic actually has to look up to. The big serving Anderson scored a scalp himself this summer, handing out a beating to Andy Murray in Canada. He'll probably have to win three rubbers as he's also in Saturday's doubles with Rik De Voest, a combination which worked particularly well against Holland earlier this summer.

"Rik is the most experienced doubles player in the team, so it's key for us to have him there," team captain John-Laffnie De Jager told the media. "As for Kevin, it would be stupid to keep him off the court with him playing so well at the moment and we have to make use of it. They're a good team, and the fact that they played so well together last time is a bonus for us."

However Croatian captain Goran Prpic remains quietly confident of success. "We've had a few days to get used to the conditions, and we're going to play our best tennis," Prpic said. "There's great pressure on both teams and we'll see how that pressure plays itself out".

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