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Benjamin Lock (left) and veteran Wayne Black team up as a doubles pair during their practice session at Harare Sports Club yesterday

Ellina Mhlanga Harare Bureau
ZIMBABWE Davis Cup tennis ace Benjamin Lock is confident the hosts will cause an upset when they take on Bosnia/Herzegovina in the Euro/Africa Group II tie starting tomorrow at Harare Sports Club.Lock flew into the country on Monday to join the rest of the team made up of captain Martin Dzuwa, Takanyi Garanganga, Mark Fynn, Tinotenda Chanakira and Wayne Black as they make their final preparations for the event running from Friday up to Sunday.

The Davis Cup event is returning to Zimbabwe after nine years, with Tennis Zimbabwe having last hosted the competition in 2006.

Bosnia/Herzegovina are the favourites going into this tie with their top player Damir Dzumhur ranked 89 in the world while Zimbabwe’s best player, Takanyi Garanganga is ranked 324.

However, the United States-based Lock is optimistic his team will succeed in their campaign.

“It’s huge I mean Bosnia has got a very good team . . . I mean they got some good players but I think with the home advantage I really think we have a good chance to win this and it will be huge.

“I think it’s really important that we just take it one match at a time and know that we can win and we’ve got good chances. Playing in Egypt last year was great, we really came through as a team. Everyone played well and it was great to be promoted to Group II. And I have just been playing some professional events in America and some college events and coming out here early to practice for the tie with Bosnia has been huge.

“It feels great playing on a hard court. Playing in your hometown it’s always nice, we’re going to have a lot of local support and it’s just very exciting to be back in Zimbabwe and playing tennis. I grew up playing tennis here, so it’s nice to be playing some professional events back home

“It’s been great practising with Takanyi Garanganga, Wayne Black, Mark Fynn and Tino Chanakira, it’s been a good experience,” said Lock.

Dzuwa said he is satisfied with the team’s preparations and added that it would be good if they can win the opening matches tomorrow.

“The team is okay all of us are in camp now, all the guys are looking sharp and ready to go. We don’t have any injuries so far and we’re looking forward to it.

“I would love to go 2-0 up but it’s a difficult call to make at the moment. They’ve a better side on paper but yes I would love to go 2-0 up or one-all on Friday. It depends also with the doubles, then we go into Sunday either 2-1 up or 2-1 down that’ll be a very good thing.

“But you never know with sport anything can happen, I mean you just have to wait and see how it goes. It’s good for tennis it’s been a long time and with the way people are asking for tickets and all that. At least we’re bringing the game back and whether a win or loss for us it’s a start, these guys it’s their first time to play in Group II so at least we give them a chance. If a win comes by it’s all good and even if we lose the tie for me it’s a plus just for us to be here but obviously I would want the team to win,” said Dzuwa.

TZ Zimbabwe president, Regis Bhunu said fans should expect an interesting event having last hosted the Davis Cup in 2006 when Zimbabwe lost 1-4 to Norway at Harare Sports Club in the Euro/Africa Zone Group II.

“It was nine years ago that’s when we played Davis Cup at this level, so it’s been quite some time. I can’t promise them (fans) results but what I can tell them is there’ll be a lot of excitement because the matches will be very competitive.

“We’re talking of guys who are professional players, who are at the highest level of playing tennis in the world so there will be a lot of excitement here.

“On our side it’s just playing Davis Cup, just being where we’re right now it’s what we’ve been fighting to do in the past years and we’re happy it has happened. So we’re playing this match depending on the results of the match, if we win we go on to play another team again for possible promotion into Europe I, if we lose we’ll be fighting for survival against another team around June,” said Bhunu.

The draw will be conducted this morning at Harare Sports Club and matches will start tomorrow with two singles matches. The doubles match is pencilled for Saturday and singles reverse matches will be played on Sunday.

Fans will pay $5 for adults and $2 for children daily and for seasonal tickets they will pay $10 and $4 respectively.