This weekend, South Africa will meet Luxembourg in what is likely to be a fierce Davis Cup World Group II playoff in Esch-sur-Alzette. The match is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.
Friday’s draw determined that South Africa’s No. 2 player, Alec Beckley, will meet Luxembourg’s No. 1 player, Alex Knaff, in the first singles rubber on Saturday.
South Africa’s No. 1 Kris van Wyk was paired against Luxembourg’s No. 2 Chris Rodesch in the second singles match.
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While all singles competitors are similarly ranked, Van Wyk (No. 516) is ranked higher than Knaff (No. 608) and Beckley (No. 687) is rated higher than Rodesch (No (724).
In the doubles match on Saturday, though, South Africa may have a huge experience and quality advantage, with senior doubles specialist Raven Klaasen (No. 60 in the world) teaming up with Beckley against Knaff and Rodesch.
The South African team has a higher ATP ranking than their opponents, which gives them some benefits heading into the match. However, on paper, Luxembourg has the advantage.
Klaasen has extensive Davis Cup experience, although Van Wyk and Beckley, age 21, have never competed in the international team competition. Knaff and Rodesch, two of the home team’s selected players, have 25 caps between them.
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The hosts also have the advantage of home-ground support and a better grasp of the conditions, but South Africa skipper Christo van Rensburg remained optimistic about his team’s chances in the indoor match.
“We have a very formidable opponent awaiting us. Everyone is excited, we’re looking forward to it, and South Africa is being treated extremely well here, Van Rensburg said following the draw.
This is the first Davis Cup match Luxembourg has played at home in five years, and they’re going all out to create a terrific atmosphere.
Everyone on our team appears to be in good health, and we are ready to compete.
In their only prior Davis Cup match against Luxembourg, South Africa won 5-0 in Centurion in 2016 in a Euro/Africa Group II match.
This weekend’s World Group II playoff winner will compete in the World Group II level later in the year, while the loser will be relegated to Regional Group III competitions.
»South Africa ready for Luxembourg following Davis Cup draw«