By Zim Sport Live Writer
Injury affected Zimbabwe are back to the less fashionable Davis Cup Africa Group III after they were clobbered 4 – 0 by visiting Morocco in a World Group II Playoff tie at Harare Sports Club on Saturday.
Zimbabwe who lost top player Benjamin Lock to injury ahead of the tie went into the second day two – nil down after Courtney Lock and Ethan Sibanda lost their singles rubbers on Friday.
Courtney Lock, who was the country’s top seed lost 6 – 2 6 – 4 to Taha Baadi before Sibanda also succumbed in straight sets to 6 – 3 6 – 2 to Moroccan top players Elliot Benchetrit.
Unfortunately Sibanda got injured in the game and giving an opportunity to teenager Ronan Mtisi to partner Courtney Lock in the doubles rubber on Saturday morning in a bid to save the tie.
Courtney Lock and Mtisi lost in straight sets 6 – 1 6 – 1 to Benchetrit and Younes Lalami Laaroussi in just 49 minutes to hand Morocco the win.
The 17- year – old Mtisi went on to play his first singles Davis Cup match against Morocco’s teenage star Karim Bennani and lost 6 – 4 6 – 3 as the visitors took a 4 – 0 lead.
The final dead rubber was cancelled.
Zimbabwe non – playing captain Gwinyai Tongoona bemoaned the injury to Benjamin Lock for the heavy defeat.
“I think after we lost Benjie ( Lock) the odds were against us and it shows how important he is to this team. It also shows how important it is to develop and encourage young players to play at a higher level,” he said.
” As you saw Ethan competed well before he got injured, Ronan competed well and Courtney also competed well but we definitely need depth. Unfortunately the guys who are at college like Ben Badza could not come so we had to play with the team that we had.
“The Moroccans I think have three or four players who play on the Challenger Tour so we need to promote our players so that they can play at the top level,” Tongoona said.
Morocco ranked 54th on the Davis Cup rankings are the second best African country after Egypt while Zimbabwe in 71st player are fourth best on the continent.
Zimbabwe will now play in Africa Group III this year and will be hoping to bounce back in Group II next year.