ZIMBABWE will kick off its Davis Cup World Group III campaign with a date against Senegal at the Harare Sports Club today.
The Davis Cup Africa Group III tournament runs from August 12 to 16 at the same venue.
The team will be without its top-ranked player, Benjamin Lock, who is still recovering from an injury that also saw him miss the team’s 4-0 defeat to Morocco in February.
The team is made up of Courtney Lock, Mehluli Sibanda, Ethan Sibanda and Ronan Mtisi.
Despite the absence of their number one player, team captain Gwinyai Tongoona remains optimistic.
"I think we've prepared well, we're ready, and we're looking forward to it, playing at home. The the home crowd is going to help us and the home court. I'm confident, I think we'll do well. We're ready," Tongoona said.
Tongoona noted that the return of Mehluli Sibanda, who did not play in the Davis Cup last year, has been a significant boost.
"Courtney is playing very well, especially in his doubles. And he's been working on his singles game quite a bit as well in preparation for this," he said.
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“It's good to have Mehluli back on the team because he wasn't on the team last time. He's strengthened us considerably from last time. Ronan and Ethan have also been training hard, and their level's gone up. I think we have all four players ready."
The Zimbabwean tournament director Cliff Nhokwara also expressed confidence in the team's preparation.
“Our team has been in camp; that's more than enough. The team has been preparing. Hopefully, we are going to prevail over the next five days,” he said.
Nhokwara also called on the public and corporate sponsors to support the team.
“We need everyone to come and help cheer the boys, give them the extra support so that they can push the nation to Group II next year,” he said.
“Tennis is a gem, it's a super sport. For this to run smoothly, we need corporates.”
Zimbabwe will be competing against Algeria, Namibia, Nigeria and Senegal. The top three nations will be promoted to the World Group II Play-offs in 2026, while the fifth and sixth-place teams will be relegated to Africa Group IV.
Team Nominations
* Algeria: Samir Hamza Reguig, Yacine Meghari, Toufik Sahtali, Kamyl Chebboub. Captain: Abdelhak Hameurlaine.
* Namibia: Connor Henry Van Schalkwyk, Codie Schalk Van Schalkwyk, Steyn Dippenaar, Ruben Yssel. Captain: Gert Dippenaar.
* Nigeria: Christopher Bulus, Stanley Uchenna, Michael Emmanuel, Canice Abua, Daniel Adeleye. Captain: Benson Isicheli Achie.
* Senegal: Seydina Andre, Nicolas Jadoun, Hassimiyou Dieng, Zoheir Fardoun, Yannick Languina. Captain: Yannick Languina.
* Zimbabwe: Mehluli Don Ayanda Sibanda, Courtney John Lock, Ethan Denzel Sibanda, Ronan Tashinga Mtisi. Captain: Gwinyai Tongoona.
Officials
* Referee: Khaled El Segany (Egypt)
* Chief Umpire: Shepherd Manyumbu (Zimbabwe).
* Chair Umpires: Ayoub Bzit (MAR), Karim Khalfallah (TUN), Gaone Poane (BOT), Tebogo Maleke (RSA).
