17 Jul 2024

Botswana started the Tennis World Cup  (Davis Cup) Africa Group V event on a high note as they won two games against Lybia. 

In the first game, Botswana, represented by Mark Nawa, managed to beat Ahmed Mouhan of Libya  2-1 (6-7,6-4,7-6) in a match that lasted four hours with intense play leading to racquet tightening and muscle cramps before the winner emerged.

In the second match, Denzel Seetso had a an easy game as he beat Mohamed Eljamal of Libya by 6-0,6-0 to give Botswana a conviencing lead.

Nawa said in a interview that he was happy that he represented the country  well, adding that although the match was tough, he had to fight for the flag.

“The match was tough and I think I won it in the mind. I knew I had to fight until the end and my commitment paid dividends,” he said.

He said there was a time when he felt it was tough and captain Petrus Molefe and teammates pushed him to finished a winner.

Nawa said he could have finished the game and won all the two sets but made a mistake hence they had to go all the way to three sets.

Denzel said he won the match by exercising patience because his opponent did not give him more to work with as he did not push him around.

“His strategy was that he waited for me to miss, but I had to be patient so that I could capitalise on his mistakes,” he said.

He said he was happy that his teammate, Nawa also won a nerve wrecking game, adding that it was important that they win all their games and not to drop any points.

Seetso said their aim as a team, was to qualify for Group IV, adding that they could only do that if they win their games and make it to the playoffs.

Captain Molefe said he was happy with his players performance adding that they played with their hearts.

He said Nawa won his match in the mind, adding that despite his opponent’s winning the first set, he did not despair, but worked hard to win the second set forcing the match to go for the third set.

“Denzel won all the two sets 6-0, 6-0 and it will show you how committed he was to finish with his opponent,” he said. 

Botswana is in Pool C with Lybia, Madagascar, Lesotho and the matches are played in round robin and all the countries that finish first in their pool will  proceed to the playoffs to play for promotion to Group IV.

The Davis Cup Africa Group V event is contested by 15 African countries, contesting for the two available slots for promotion to Africa Group IV and Pool A has Mozambique, Djibouti, Tanzania, Pool B has Gabon, Uganda, Sudan, Seychelles and Pool D has Congo, Mauritius, Ethopia and Mauritania. 

The event, which started yesterday, ends on Saturday. Ends