Cyprus will have star player Marcos Baghdatis for their crunch Davis Cup tie against Tunisia which gets underway on Friday in Nicosia.
Both sides will compete to determine the winner from the five games (four single and one double) in Europe/Africa Relegation Playoff Group II. Cyprus had dropped into the relegation group after losing to Turkey without Baghdatis earlier this year.
Defeat for Cyprus would see them fall into Group III.
Baghdatis will team up with Petros Chrysochos (ranked 1,351), Menelaos Efstathiou (ranked 1,491) and Eleftherios Neos (no ranking) for the games at the hard-surface National Tennis Centre in Nicosia. The games get underway on Friday and finish on Sunday.
“I got my training under way without any problems”, said Baghdatis on Thursday. “I believe I will return to full fitness over the next few days. For us, the games begin now [yesterday] and not on Friday because there is plenty of planning for every point that we need to prepare for us a team.”
“The fans should come and support us and we will do whatever we can to give them joy.”
Cyprus’ second best-ranked tennis player Chrysochos says he is currently looking to get over the jet lag having just returned from the US where he is studying at university.
“I am still getting over the time difference. I know some of the Tunisian opponents from some of the games from university. I am on good terms with them. I feel that we have what it takes to remain in this division.”
The big threat for Baghdatis will be Malek Jaziri – who is actually ranked four places above the Cypriot tennis star in 52nd place – who reached the semifinals of the Moscow Open in 2012, the Winston-Salem in 2015 and the quarterfinals of the Dubai Open in 2014.
Jaziri has been a member of the Tunisia Davis Cup team since 2000, posting an 18–12 record in singles and a 7–10 record in doubles in 29 ties.
The other players in the Tunisian team are Moez Echargui (ranked 799), Aziz Dougaz (ranked 816) and Skander Masouri (ranked 1,148).
Tunisia holds a 3-1 head-to-head record lead against Cyprus in the Davis Cup.
“The hospitality has been great and we feel right at home here,” said Jaziri on Thursday. “These games could go either way and I believe the team showing the most spirit will go through.”
Ticket prices have been set at €5, while entrance for persons under 18 is free.
Tickets can be purchased online at the association’s official website or at the National Tennis Centre on the day of the games. For more information, call 22 449860/61.
Davis Cup Fixtures
Friday, April 7: Efstathiou v Jaziri (11.45am), Baghatis v Echargui (to follow); Saturday, April 8: Baghdatis/Chrysochos v Jaziri/Masouri (11am); Sunday, April 9: Baghdatis v Jaziri (11am), Efstathiou v Echargui (to follow)
Cyprus Weekly
