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Harare Bureau
ZIMBABWE are set to mark their return to the Euro-Africa Group II of the Davis Cup when they face Turkey at home in the 2018 tournament.

The Zimbabweans have been given the right to have a choice of venue at a draw conducted at the International Tennis Federation in England yesterday.

The tie will take place over the weekend of February 3-4 next year at a venue to be advised.

Tennis Zimbabwe president Martin Lock yesterday welcomed the draw.

Lock revealed his joy over the prospects of playing at home.

“We are pleased to play at home. It’s what we wanted and I am sure it is a shot in the arm in our quest to stay in Europe/Africa Zone Group II.

“The players are always excited to play here because of the amazing support and the atmosphere of the drum-beating fans. It will be exciting, it’s always good to have home advantage,” said Lock.

The tie, which the best-of-three, will be played in over two days in a new trial format to begin next year for both Group I and Group II.

Zimbabwe bounced back into Group II after beating Kenya 2-0 in the promotional play-offs of the Europe/Africa Zone Group III in Egypt three months ago.

Nine teams featured in the event with only the top two progressing. Team Zimbabwe was made up of captain Martin Dzuwa, Takanyi Garanganga, the Lock brothers — Benjamin and Courtney —Tadiwa Chinamo and Mehluli Sibanda.

Garanganga and Benjamin Lock are currently involved on the world tour and are likely to be involved in lots of tennis before the Turks come to Harare.

Benjamin is currently playing in the Kuwait F1 singles and doubles and yesterday he posted a 2-0 win over Anirudh Chandrasekar.

Chinamo and Courtney are also in the thick of things in the United States of America where they are playing College tennis.

But Zimbabwe are not likely to have it easy against the Turkish side that recently suffered a disappointing 4-1 home defeat at the hands of Sweden in the Europe/ Africa Zone Group II second round.

This will be their fourth straight year of playing in Group II for the visitors. The Turks are ranked 49th in the Davis Cup charts while Zimbabwe are a distant 73rd.

Lock, however, is confident Zimbabwe, who once played in the World Group, will cause an upset.

“We are really looking forward to it. I think Turkey are beatable. I’m not sure which players they will bring but I was looking at the rankings of the players that featured recently and I discovered they are ranked beyond the top 200.

“The last time we played in this group we met some guys who were ranked in the top 100. So we welcome this draw. In Davis Cup, anything can happen,” said Lock.

If Zimbabwe progress, they will face the winner between Poland and Slovenia in the second round in April next year.