ZIMBABWE pin their hopes on Courtney Lock to win the deciding match against Uruguay’s second seed, Ignacio Carou and keep their place in Davis Cup World Group II.
In the first match of the day on Saturday, Lock brothers Courtney and Benjamin teamed up for the doubles match and lost to Martin Cuevas and Ariel Behar in straight sets, 2-6, 4-6.
With little time to rest after the doubles match, Benjamin had to summon all his energy to keep Zim’s hopes alive. He did not disappoint, dispatching in straight sets the highly fancied Cuevas 6-4, 6-4 to level the tie 2-2.
Benjamin showed his big-match temperament and played some scintillating tennis that made the fans give him a standing ovation each time he won a point.
Zimbabwe’s dreams of staying in the Davis Cup World Group II now rested on the shoulders of his brother Courtney.
The pressure got to him, and he lost the first set of the tie decider to 3-6 Carou.
The second set was going with serve at 1-1, Courtney serving at 30, all before the heavens opened up, bringing the match to a temporary halt.
Suppose Zimbabwe entertains any hopes of staying in World Group. In that case, Courtney will tomorrow have to come from a set down in the deciding match of the playoffs and win the following two sets.
