Davis Cup first day summary: Lithuania VS South Africa 1-1

During this weekend Lithuanian Davis Cup team will try to reach an important victory in South Africa where they are facing the local team in Europe / Africa Zone Group II. Ričardas Berankis and Laurynas Grigelis will be the main Lithuanian tennis players in these meeting. After the first day, the result between the nations is 1-1.

“South Africa and Lithuania meet for the first time in the history of the competition with the victor progressing to a promotion play-off and the chance to advance to Europe Africa Zone Group I. South Africa are trying bounce straight back having been relegated last year while Lithuania have never been higher than Zone Group II in the 20 years they have competed in Davis Cup”. Announces the official Davis Cup page regarding the meeting.

Lithuania sent Ričardas Berankis first to the court. The 23-year-old player who’s taking the 143rd place in the world faced the25-year-old Jean Anderson who is taking the 863rd place in ATP world ranking. The match was one sided and finished in straight sets victory to the Lithuanian 6-3, 7-6(7-2), 6-3.

When the result on the score board showed 1-0 to Lithuania, the second best Lithuanian, the 22-year-old Laurynas Grigelis who was ranked this Monday at the 234th place played against world number 261, the 33-year-old Rick De Voest. Both players fought in four sets long and tough match. Finally, Grigelis surrendered in fourth set tie break. 7-6(7-5) 7-6(7-3) 2-6 7-6(7-4) was the final result between the two.

Tomorrow (Saturday), according to Davis Cup traditions, doubles match will take place. Laurynas Grigelis will have to forget his painful loss from Friday’s match and to join powers with Ričardas Berankis when they will play against Jean Anderson and Raven Klaasen.

The South African star Kevin Anderson who is taking the 19th place in the world did not joined his Davis Cup team this time. Beside Berankis and Grigelis, Lukas Mugevičius and Mantas Bugailiškis are part of the Lithuanian squad to this meeting.

Official Davis Cup page to the meeting: http://adf.ly/ifXKx